Pregnancy: Alcoholic Drinks

(asked on 17th October 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Pregnancy, Fertility, Breastfeeding, and Alcohol Consumption: An Analysis of Framing and Completeness of Information Disseminated by Alcohol Industry–Funded Organizations, published on 13 October, what plans they have to make warnings of the risks of consuming alcohol in pregnancy mandatory.


This question was answered on 31st October 2019

The Government is very clear about the dangers that alcohol poses to the unborn child and reflects this in the advice it gives. The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines published in 2016 provide clear advice to women not to drink alcohol if they are planning for a pregnancy or are pregnant. The National Health Service online information also reflects this advice.

Additionally, the Government has been clear that the alcohol industry must reflect the UK Chief Medical Officers' alcohol guidelines on the labels of their products which includes a no drinking in pregnancy logo.

Public Health England, NHS England and local commissioners are already undertaking awareness and education on the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant.

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