Temperance Activists Seek Warning Labels for Pregnant Women on Booze Bottles
The Temperance Union is participating in a Pan-European initiative which aims to introduce labels on liquor bottles, warning women of the hazards of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
In the upcoming days, organizations and individuals from 20 European countries will be sending out a total of 15,000 postcards illustrating the necessity of such warning labels to both policymakers and general public.
According to Lauri Beekmann, head of the union, research has shown that people in Estonia are mostly aware of the effects of alcohol for pregnant women. The knowledge, however, often does not change the routine behavior of women, Beekmann told ETV.
Any amount of alcohol can be harmful to the fetus, said Beekmann, adding that the union is not aiming to play the blame game, but to protect unborn children.
Scientific studies have shown that maternal alcohol use can interfere with the unborn child’s ability to obtain oxygen and nourishment which is essential for normal cell development.
Ingrid Teesalu