‘No drinking while pregnant’ warning on alcohol

ALCOHOLIC drinks could carry a new “no drinking while pregnant” warning under new government guidelines.

Guidance released by the Department of Health asks the alcohol industry to display “clear” information that is “not difficult for consumers to find”.

The advice suggests companies us a box in a different colour from the rest of the packaging to make the warning more visible.

The suggested image is a silhouette of a pregnant woman drinking inside a red circle with a cross.

Alternatively, it suggests a box reading: “It is safest not to drink alcohol when pregnant”

The Government advises pregnant women not to drink at all, as alcohol consumption can lead to long-term harm to the baby. However it adds that the risk of harm to the child is likely to be low if the mother has only drunk small amounts of alcohol before they found out they were pregnant.

Women who are not pregnant are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which, the Government advises, should be spread over three or more days rather than consumed in a single “binge”.