No safe level – critics miss the point

By @FASD_Mum

The UK Chief Medical Officer said today that “there is no ‘safe’ level of alcohol to drink while you are pregnant.”

This is part of roll out of draft guidance that has been made available for public consultation through April 2016.  This statement brings the UK in line, finally, with most major advanced countries.  For example, in 2005 the US Surgeon General stated categorically that “A pregnant woman should not drink alcohol during pregnancy.”

Already the naysayers are chiming in, talking about a ‘nanny state’ and preparing to dismiss this guidance based on what they say is a lack of evidence.

I have some questions for these critics.  Would you allow your child to go careening downhill on a tricycle without a helmet?  After all, the chances the child might fall depends on many factors and even if he or she did fall, they might not actually…