Editorial: Troubles over bubbles

Of course a lot of people think you should be allowed to do what you like with your own body - but the issue here is clearly the health of the unborn child. Photo / Getty Images

Wow, there have been a lot of apologies flying around lately.

This latest one didn't happen to come from TV3 - which they'll be thankful for. (And, if you follow such things, I don't think TV3 should be apologising for allowing a woman with a drink-driving conviction on to their reality show).

Instead it was an Auckland restaurant owner saying sorry after staff refused to serve a pregnant woman a glass of sparkling wine on her wedding anniversary.

The waitress refused on the basis of the woman's pregnancy.

Apparently the rules don't account for this specific type of social and host responsibility. The owner has pointed out the Sale of Liquor Act defines just two classes of "prohibited persons" to whom it is unlawful to serve alcohol - minors and intoxicated people.

The public - defined as people who vote in online polls - is split relatively evenly on the issue. Of nearly 7000 votes on the NZ Herald website, 49 per cent say denying the woman a drink was the right call. Forty-six per cent say it should be up to the woman.

Of course a lot of people think you should be allowed to do what you like with your own body - but the issue here is clearly the health of the unborn child. The customer is heavily pregnant and due to give birth in a few weeks.

As with any issue where science can be involved - there is science to back up whichever side of the argument you wish to take. The British National Health Service advises that there is no harm to unborn babies if women drink no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week.

Others say it's not clear if there's a danger and the safest decision is no alcohol at all.

Whether bar and restaurant staff across the nation are aware of all the scientific and medical literature on the topic is unknown. Given that the staff member's choice at the time would seem to have been a reasonable and common-sense one.

You do have to wonder though, what next? Are bottle stores and supermarkets restricting alcohol to non-pregnant customers? Should dairies refuse to sell cigarettes to expectant mums?