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experts Demanding clear labeling on the following-Liquor Amidst the growing popularity among pregnant women and the severe lack of information to distinguish the drink from alcohol-free alternatives.
The petition comes after a new survey revealed that seven out of 10 are pregnant mothers Have consumed “No/No” beverages during pregnancyDespite more than half feeling there was inadequate guidance available.
A study from the University of Plymouth on behalf of Alcohol Change UK surveyed more than 2,000 currently or recently pregnant women, finding that 71 percent had consumed no drinks.
Of these, 72 percent saw them as a safe alternative to alcohol, and 69 percent felt it helped them attend social events.
However, 55 per cent of women surveyed reported that they did not receive any information about the no/lo option from their midwife or GP.
While 78 percent clearly considered 0 percent or alcohol-free beverages ‘very acceptable’ during pregnancy (80 percent during breastfeeding), only 11 percent found low-alcohol beverages (0.5-1.2 percent ABV) ‘very acceptable’ during pregnancy, rising to 40 percent during breastfeeding.
Eilar Hashemzadeh, Director Research And Public Affairs at Alcohol Change UK said: “Many people try to avoid alcohol while pregnant, and the growing number of alcohol-free and low-alcohol beers, wines and cocktails offer a way to do this, while still enjoying ‘adult’ drinks.”
He added, “What this research found, however, is that there is a lot of uncertainty and a lot of guessing going on, especially with beverages that are not completely alcohol-free.”
Ms Hashemzadeh concluded: “Parents-to-be would really benefit from clear advice from trusted professionals on when and how to use these drinks.”
Alcohol Change UK is now calling for greater clarity about alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks during pregnancy, particularly in the 0.05-1.2 per cent ABV range.
The charity urges that healthcare professionals be provided with information about their consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding to ensure consistent advice, and that labeling on low-alcohol beverages be improved to distinguish them from alcohol-free drinks.
They also called on organizations that provide advice to pregnant and breastfeeding women about alcohol to include specific guidance on these choices.
Dr Kate Maslin, senior research fellow and project leader in Maternal and Child Health at the University of Plymouth, said: “Alcohol-free drinks are clearly preferred among pregnant and recently pregnant women as they seek safer alternatives when socializing during pregnancy.”
She added: “Yet, what really stood out, both in the data and when talking to individuals to further explore their experiences and perspectives, was the feeling that information about the safety and appropriateness of these options, particularly from health care and pregnancy professionals, has not caught up.”
Dr. Maslin also said that the World Health Organization “advises that there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy,” and the increasing popularity of no/low products “has led to a reliance on Internet searches and social media for guidance on their use during pregnancy, both of which may contain misinformation or conflicting information.”
They concluded: “As well as further research on the safety and suitability of alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks during pregnancy, it is important that people who engage with and support pregnant women are able to provide clear, consistent advice.”