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If the French are better aware of the dangers linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy, progress remains to be made on their perception of risky consumption levels for small quantities, noted a study by Public Health France on Tuesday.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy poses risks for the development of the fetus, recalls the Agency in a “weekly epidemiological bulletin”. As a precautionary principle, it is therefore recommended not to drink alcohol throughout the duration of pregnancy and to avoid consuming it while breastfeeding.
The recommendation of “zero alcohol during pregnancy” has gradually become established in public representations: 90% of those questioned were aware of it in 2020 (+10 points between 2004 and 2020), welcomes Public Health France, seeing the fruits of it of different prevention campaigns.
Almost half (46%) of respondents stated that there is a risk from the first drink (+24 points). The proportion of those considering a glass of alcohol for special occasions to be safe was also halved between 2004 and 2020 (48% versus 25%).
1 in 10 people think drunkenness is not a problem during pregnancy
Despite these improvements, one person in ten continues not to perceive drunkenness as a risk (compared to two in ten in 2004), she notes.
And despite a decline of at least 10 points since 2004, certain erroneous beliefs persist: around a fifth of the population thinks that beer can promote breastfeeding and that it is advisable to drink a glass of wine from time to time during pregnancy, adds SpF, pointing out the “particular status of wine in the French cultural context”.
The health agency therefore considers it necessary to “continue to communicate with a wide audience” (around pregnant women, health professionals, etc.) on this subject.