Alcohol and Pregnancy

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the EU.

It affects about 1% of people in the EU27 (i.e. nearly 5 million people) and is the only one that is 100% preventable.

Unfortunately, many women are not aware that, throughout pregnancy, even at low levels of exposure, alcohol interferes with the normal development and can seriously damage the unborn child.

Numerous studies show there are a substantial number of women in the EU who continue to drink during pregnancy. It is estimated that this ranges from 25% in Spain to 35%-50% in the Netherlands and even higher rates in the UK or Ireland (79%).

The umbrella term, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These can include physical, mental, behavioural and or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications

On October 24 the European Commission adopted a Communication setting out a strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm. One of the priorities identified in the Communication is to protect young people, children and the unborn child.

Eurocare Events

Eurocare's Alcohol and Pregnancy Conference. 9/09/09, European Parliament

Over 100 people attended the Conference Eurocare held in the European Parliament to mark the ”International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day” on Wednesday 9th September 2009.

Useful links

European FASD Network

The purpose of this website is to share information and resources among all who are working for alcohol-free pregnancies in Europe.

American NOFAS

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrom

http://www.nofas.org

Reunisaf

This website provides information about FASD in French.

http://www.reunisaf.com/

Other resources

Fertig A. Watson T. (2009) Minimum drinking age laws and infant health outcomes. Journal of Health Economics

Garcia-Algar O. et al (2008) Alarming Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Exposure in a Mediterranean City. Ther Drug Monit. Vol 30, 2: 249-254

Arago'n A. et al (2008) Neuropsychological Characteristics of Italian Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Reasearch, Vol 32, 11:1909-1919

British Medical Association guide to FASD (January 2008)

May P. et al (2006) Epidemiology of FASD in Province in Italy: Prevalence and Characteristics of Children in a Random Sample of Schools, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Reasearch, Vol 30, 9:1562-1575

Kodituwaku P. et al (2006) Neobehavioral Characteristics of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spetrum Disorders in Communities from Italy: Preliminary Results, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Reasearch, Vol 30, 9:1551-1561

Research publications

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