Consuming alcohol after conceiving a child can lead to many health problems during and after pregnancy. Considering the risks, wine makers in Australia are planning to include health warnings on their labels, the Winemakers' Federation of Australia (WFA) announced the decision today.
"While many in the winemaking industry have already incorporated consumer messaging on their products, a partnership announced today between the Federation and DrinkWise Australia will give all winemakers the opportunity to get involved quickly and at no cost," said WFA President Tony D'Aloisio, in a news release.
DrinkWise is a not- for-profit organization working to build a safer drinking culture in Australia. Authorities are planning to convey the negative side of alcohol consumption during pregnancy either through a pictogram of a pregnant lady or the message, "It is safest not to drink while pregnant."
"We are in the process of contacting all Australian winemakers with information on how they can access this labelling initiative," D'Aloisio said.
The negative impact of consuming alcohol during pregnancy is known from a long time. Medical experts normally advise women to avoid alcohol during pregnancy as it can result in fetal alcohol syndrome, birth defects, low birth weight and developmental disabilities.
However, according to a latest estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of 13 pregnant women continues consuming alcohol in U.S.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, alcohol contains a substance called teratogen that is harmful for human development. So any drink that contains alcohol can be harmful to the growth of the unborn baby. The alcohol that mother consumes reaches the baby through placenta and remains in the baby's blood much longer than the mother's. Alcohol is the sole reason behind the 40,0000 babies born with birth defects called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders every year.
The association puts forward two organizations for women who need help in putting an end to their alcohol addiction: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information (800-729-6686) and National Alcohol & Drug HopeLine 1-800-NCA-CALL (622-2255).
