Pregnancy
The panel was also asked about the harms of drinking in
pregnancy. On this issue, for example, the Drinkaware
representative said:
“not drinking when you are thinking about becoming pregnant or
are pregnant are important messages that are not necessarily
getting to as many people as they possibly can”(Drinkaware,
Q336).
Drinkaware's own information on drinking in pregnancy which it
provides to the public has been analysed in depth and found to be
seriously misleading…. (3)
The statement that Drinkaware's Chief Executive gave in relation
to drinking during pregnancy, or in anticipation of becoming
pregnant, was accurate and aligns with the CMOs' Low Risk
Drinking Guidelines[14] and the NHS's own
advice pages[15].
Again, the researchers from the Faculty of Public Health and
Policy cite their own research that appears to be based on two
Drinkaware webpages from 8 years ago, in 2016.
As stated previously, our website and tools provide lots of
information about alcohol which follows and often directly quotes
the CMOs' Guidelines. All our medical advice is verified and
approved by our Independent Advisory Panel (formerly a Medical
Advisory Panel with a sole focus on medicine and health), made up
of experts in the fields of medicine, psychology, behavioural
insights and addiction. All our website content is reviewed at
least every three years; this is the same review period as the
NHS's own advice webpages.
We are very clear that if you are pregnant or think you could
become pregnant, then you should avoid drinking alcohol. We have
included screenshots of Drinkaware's most recent advice pages on
alcohol and pregnancy below.
[16]
[17]
These pages were most recently reviewed in June 2022 to include
the most up to date information.
Education in schools
Drinkaware's educational materials, which the charity retracted
after the study was published, selectively omitted the risk of
drinking in pregnancy and the risks and impacts of Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD). (26)
The researchers from the Faculty of Public Health and Policy cite
their own analysis here. Drinkaware was not forced to retract the
materials described. Drinkaware for Education was wound down in
2019. Following a strategy review, Drinkaware now solely focusses
on over 18s.
As stated above, our website is very clear about the risks around
cancer and drinking during pregnancy.
We are grateful to members of the committee for inviting
Drinkaware to contribute to your important inquiry through the
call for evidence and the oral evidencesession, as well as this
additional opportunity to respond to points raised subsequent to
these respective windows.
We commend the committee's work and interest in the area of
prevention, particularly in regard to alcohol harm, and stand
ready to provide any additional support or information to the
committee's inquiry.
Yours sincerely,
Annabelle Bonus
Director of Research, Policy and Strategy
April 2024
[1] Memorandum of
Understanding between the Portman Group, the Department of
Health, the Home Office, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly
Government and Northern Ireland Office. 2006
[2]
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/about-us
[3] Polling conducted by
OnePoll on behalf of Drinkaware in September 2023
[4]
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/pregnancy-and-fertility/alcohol-and-pregnancy
[5]
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/alcohol-related-diseases-and-illnesses/alcohol-and-the-heart
[6]
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/alcohol-related-diseases-and-illnesses/alcohol-and-cancer
[7] Morris, J., &
Schomerus, G. (2023). Why stigma matters in addressing
alcohol harm. Drug and Alcohol Review, 42(5), 1264-1268.
[8] Finn, S. W., Mejldal,
A., & Nielsen, A. S. (2023). Public stigma and
treatment preferences for alcohol use disorders. BMC health
services research, 23(1), 76.
[9]
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/challenging-the-stigma-around-alcohol
[10]
https://www.actiononaddiction.org.uk/
[11]
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/alcohol-stigma/
[12]
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/news/msps-support-campaign-end-stigma-addiction
[13]
https://www.facesandvoicesofrecoveryuk.org/
[14] Department of Health.
(2016, Jan). UK Chief Medical Officers'
Alcohol Guidelines Review. Summary of the proposed new
guidelines.
[15]
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/drinking-alcohol-while-pregnant/
[16]
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/pregnancy-and-fertility/alcohol-and-pregnancy
[17]
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/information-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-the-facts/low-risk-drinking-guidelines#alcoholandpregnancy
