British Government Issues New Guidelines Recommending That Pregnant Women, Those Trying To Conceive Abstain From Consuming Alcohol

The United Kingdom's Department of Health recently issued new guidelines recommending that women who are pregnant or trying to conceive abstain from consuming alcohol completely, London's Independent reports (Shaikh, Independent, 5/25). The recommendations replace current guidelines that say such women drink only one or two units of alcohol once or twice weekly, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. It also brings the country in line with guidelines in Australia, Canada, France and the U.S. that recommend abstinence from alcohol consumption.

The health department said it issued the guidelines to ensure that pregnant women receive a consistent message about the risks associated with alcohol consumption. A recent government survey found that 9% of pregnant women were drinking more than the recommended levels. According to the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, more than 6,000 infants are born annually in Britain with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy (AFP/Yahoo! News, 5/25).

The agency said that the new guidelines are meant to send a "strong signal" to the thousands of women who drink more than the recommended limit. The health department also wants warnings to be placed on labels of bottles of wine, spirits and beer, the Independent reports (Independent, 5/25).

"Our advice is simple: avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive," Deputy Chief Medical Officer Fiona Adshead said, adding, "The advice now reflects the fact that many women give up drinking alcohol completely during pregnancy. It is now straightforward and stresses that it is better to avoid drinking alcohol altogether" (Reuters UK, 5/25). Sheila Shribman, national clinical director for maternity services, said, "Although there is still scientific uncertainty about the precise impact of excess alcohol on unborn babies, we believe the time is right to introduce a strong, consistent approach across the whole of the U.K."

Patrick O'Brien, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said although there is "no doubt" that drinking high levels of alcohol during pregnancy is harmful, there is "no evidence that low-level drinking ... is harmful to the baby in any way." He added, "The advice that we are giving at the moment -- which is based on the evidence -- is that low levels of alcohol intake are perfectly safe" (AFP/Yahoo! News, 5/25).

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