[thackney]

As for why it isn't more popular

Not to mention its high level of toxicity and ability to be absorbed through the skin or breathing the fumes. Short term exposure effects include blindness and death.

http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0057.htm

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174890-overview

[GonzoGOP]

Not to mention its high level of toxicity and ability to be absorbed through the skin or breathing the fumes.

I wouldn't advise drinking, bathing in or inhaling the fumes of gasoline either, but we manage to use that as a fuel. In fact methanol is less toxic than gasoline. So to follow your argument we need to get rid of all those dangerous gas stations.

METHANOL VS. GASOLINE—CONTRAST AND COMPARISON"

Speaking of gas stations in event of a fire methanol or ethanol can be put out with water. Also in event of a fuel spill they dilute rapidly in water and break down by UV from sunlight. An Exxon Valdez with methanol would be no big deal as the alcohol would rapidly be diluted by the ocean. With ethanol it would be even less so.