In case you’re in any doubt, the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) have got together with major liquor retailers to deliver a single message to pregnant women: it is safest not to drink alcohol while pregnant.
Major retailers will make literature available at the point of purchase to help increase awareness and understanding of the risks of women drinking alcohol while pregnant.
The campaign was initiated by the Chair of DrinkWise Australia, Trish Worth, a former Parliamentary Secretary for Health in the Howard Government.
“There is much confusion about alcohol and pregnancy. Medical experts don’t actually know what is the lowest possible level of alcohol that can be drunk safely, so their advice is the safest possible thing that women can do is to not drink alcohol at all during pregnancy or while they are breastfeeding.”
Ms Worth said that while the brochure was relevant to women, men should also take time to read the information so they are also informed about the issue.
“By knowing the facts about pregnancy and alcohol, men can help their partner make a decision not to drink and provide them with support before and during a pregnancy and while breastfeeding.”
The educational literature follows a related initiative from last year in which RANZCOG endorsed health messages to appear on the labels of alcohol products to inform women and men of the risks of alcohol and pregnancy. But DrinkWise and RANZCOG have taken this new step as labels alone are not enough.
“Practical resources such as this brochure will provide further information to the community and help couples make an informed choice.”
Expect advice from Professor Alec Welsh, Head of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney can be found on the DrinkWise website.
Participating retailers include Aldi, BWS, Cellarbrations, Dan Murphy’s, First Choice, IGA Liquor, Liquorland, The Bottle-O, Thirsty Camel, Woolworths Liquor and Vintage Cellars.
Further information:
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