Drinking in pregnancy

Debate rages both in academic circles and in the media over communicating messages to the public regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This chapter considers how research-based evidence is translated into risk communications through three key mechanisms: ‘official’ publications and guidance issued by government departments or health authorities; websites run by advocacy groups; and midwives at the front line in delivering advice to women. The focus is on the UK, and, to a lesser extent, other countries (USA, Australia, New Zealand), where the ‘risk narrative’ around drinking in pregnancy and pressures towards adopting the ‘precautionary principle’ have emerged and strengthened over recent decades.