New research reveals that more than 7 in 10 (71%) women have consumed alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks during pregnancy, signalling their growing popularity among expectant mothers seeking safer alternatives to alcohol.
Despite widespread use during pregnancy and continued growth of the no- and low-alcohol drinks market - such as alcohol-free or low-alcohol beers, wines and spirits - the findings highlight that many women feel there is a lack of guidance from healthcare professionals about these alternatives, prompting calls for clearer information and support.
The World Health Organisation advises there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Yet, with the UK Government's 10-Year Health Plan including plans to consult on changing the upper strength threshold at which a drink may be described as alcohol free (from 0.05% currently to 0.5% ABV), experts are even keener to ensure consistent information is provided.
The first-of-its-kind peer-reviewed study, conducted by the University of Plymouth on behalf of Alcohol Change UK, explored how more than 2,000 currently or recently pregnant women think and feel about alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks, as well as how regularly, if at all, they are consumed during pregnancy and why.
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