Criminalising mothers: the beginning of the slippery slope

The recent case reported in the press of a 17 year old mother who deliberately binge drank alcohol during her pregnancy, resulting in a baby with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and who now stands accused of administering a ‘noxious substance’ to the baby and criminal negligence, represents the beginning of what may subsequently morph into the repudiation of some of the rights women have achieved in the last two centuries.

FAS occurs in 1 in 3000 births and is characterised by growth deficiency, facial abnormalities and impaired cognition. Adult complications involve psychiatric issues, drug addiction and cognitive deficits. Financial societal costs of FAS are over $300 million dollars in the US alone. It is irreversible and caused by heavy, frequent alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Around 10-30 percent of women will drink alcohol during their pregnancy, with around 10 percent admitting to binge drinking.

NICE guidelines suggest pregnant women drink no more than 1-2 units, 1-2 times a week and never get drunk, with this representing a relatively ‘safe’ level of consumption.