No alcohol in pregnancy is the safest option
Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol
In 2009 the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released an updated version of the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. These guidelines aim to communicate evidence concerning these risks to the Australian community to allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding the amount of alcohol they choose to consume.
Guideline 1: Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime
The lifetime risk of harm from drinking alcohol increases with the amount consumed. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.
Guideline 2: Reducing the risk of injury on a single occasion of drinking
On a single occasion of drinking, the risk of alcohol-related injury increases with the amount consumed. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion.
Guideline 3: Children and young people under 18 years of age
For children and young people under 18 years of age, not drinking alcohol is the safest option.
- Parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.
- For young people aged 15−17 years, the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking as long as possible.
Guideline 4: Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Maternal alcohol consumption can harm the developing foetus or breastfeeding baby.
- For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option.
- For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.
The NHMRC Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol (page 78) conclude:
- Not drinking alcohol is the safest option.
- The risk of harm to the fetus is highest when there there is high, frequent, maternal alcohol intake.
- The risk of harm to the fetus is likely to be low if a woman has consumed only small amounts of alcohol before she knew she ws pregnant or durign pregnancy.
- The level of risk to the indiviudal fetus is influenced by maternal and fetal characteristics and is hard to predict.
For more information read the NHMRC Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol or go to the Frequently Asked Questions
What is a standard drink?
An Australian Standrad Drink is defined as about 10g of alcohol
Examples of a 'standard drink'
- Small glass of wine or champagne (100ml)
- Stubby of mid-strenght beer
- 1 nip of spirits (30ml)
A 100ml glass of wine is a standard drink; however the average restaurant serve is 150ml or 1.4 - 1.6 standard drinks. One can of full strength beer is equivalent to 1.4 standard drinks.
The Standard Drink Guide below is from the Alcohol and Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
