Foetal risks bring drink warning call

By ANGELA GREGORY

Parliament's health committee wants warning labels on all alcoholic drinks to remind women of the dangers of drinking it during pregnancy.

The committee has recommended that the Government draw up a law requiring mandatory warning labels, alongside initiatives such as health promotion and education.

Each year, between 100 and 500 babies born in New Zealand are thought to be affected by alcohol drunk during pregnancy, considered the leading cause of preventable permanent mental impairment in the Western world.

The most severe effects, known as foetal alcohol syndrome, include retarded growth and central nervous system abnormalities.

The committee has heard submissions from the Ministry of Health and the Foetal Alcohol Trust, which organised a petition signed by just over 7000 people. It was presented to Parliament in May 2000 by Labour MP Dianne Yates.

Midwife and committee chairwoman Steve Chadwick said it was time the Government faced up to its responsibility to warn pregnant women against drinking any alcohol.

The committee was concerned the ministry's position implied there was a safe amount women could drink.

While an effort to legislate for mandatory labelling had failed on a conscience vote last year, Ms Chadwick believed attitudes had changed. Evidence was also continuing to mount on the dangers of any alcohol consumption in pregnancy.

The committee also recommended more research to establish what, if any, amount of alcohol would be safe during pregnancy and more data on the prevalence of alcohol-related birth disorders.

Alcohol Health Watch representative Christine Rogan urged the liquor industry to put the labels on voluntarily. Exports already had warning labels and she called for the same service for New Zealanders.

Labelling bottles would help to ensure women received a consistent message, she said.

"In this country at the moment, the Health Ministry and the Alcohol Advisory Council - because there is no safe known amount of alcohol in pregnancy - do recommend abstinence," Ms Rogan said.

"The purpose of a label on a bottle is to raise awareness. There is lots of evidence to show that it is very, very effective at doing that."

There was no research as yet that definitively established a safe drinking maximum for pregnant women.

"Some things will be caused by large amounts of alcohol, and some things may be caused by small amounts," Ms Rogan said.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said he supported alcohol warning labels. "The truth needs to be told."

Mr Anderton said detailed labelling was now required on food products for the benefit of adults.

"I think we should at least have the same standards."

Beer Wines and Spirits Council chief executive Nicki Stewart said international research had shown warning labels on alcohol did not work. "The people who read labels don't need to and those who should read them don't."

Education was a better way to go, she said, and that would be supported by the liquor industry.

She had already met the Hamilton-based Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Group to work on a project emphasising the risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant.