Alcohol during pregnancy: it is always out

While the French are better aware of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy, they have yet to make progress in perceiving the levels of risky consumption in small amounts, a French Public Health study said Tuesday.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy carries risks for the development of the fetus, the agency recalls in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, it is recommended not to drink alcohol during pregnancy and to avoid drinking alcohol while breastfeeding.

The recommendation of “zero alcohol during pregnancy” has gradually taken root in public perceptions: 90% of those surveyed knew about it in 2020 (+10 points between 2004 and 2020), welcomed by the French Ministry of Health, seeing the fruits of various prevention campaigns there.

Nearly half (46%) of respondents said there was a risk from the first drink (+24 points). The proportion of those who consider drinking alcohol safe for special occasions also halved between 2004 and 2020 (48% vs. 25%).

Every tenth person does not consider drinking a risk

Despite these improvements, one in 10 people still don’t perceive drinking as a risk (compared to two in 10 in 2004), she notes.

And despite a decline of at least 10 points since 2004, some misconceptions persist: About a fifth of the population believes that beer can encourage breastfeeding and that an occasional glass of wine is a good idea during pregnancy, adds Public Health. France, pointing to the “special status of wine in the French cultural context”.

At the same time, the health department considers it necessary to “continue communication with a wide audience” (environment of pregnant women, medical workers, etc.) on this topic.