Drinking in Pregnancy - No Safe Time, No Safe Amount

August 01, 2025

A safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has not been found. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol (a toxin) it crosses the placenta and it can affect the developing brain cells of the unborn baby.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the term used to describe the range of permanent birth defects caused by alcohol consumption in pregnancy. FASD does not look the same in each person, it is difficult to diagnose, and the full effects may not be apparent until a child is older which makes FASD difficult to study. As a result, there are conflicting reports about the dangers of drinking in pregnancy.

We do know the baby’s brain continues to develop throughout pregnancy, and that brain damage can occur at any time if alcohol is consumed. Permanent brain damage is the biggest risk to the unborn baby when mothers drink.

If you are trying to get pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or you are pregnant the safest choice is to be alcohol free.

Did you know that:

  • FASD Is the leading cause of developmental disability in Canada
  • FASD affects 1-2% of Canadians. Experts feel the rate is higher as diagnosis is difficult
  • FASD costs Canadians 5.3 - 7.6 billion dollars every year in care
  • FASD is estimated to be ten times higher in Canadian prisons
  • 20% of women in their childbearing years consume five or more drinks at a sitting once a month or more – three times the rate from a decade ago
  • Spending $150,000 to prevent FASD would save $1.6 million dollars in treatment

September 9th is FASD day

On this day we remind everyone that there is no safe time, no safe amount and no safe kind of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. To raise awareness of this important issue, there will be several events taking place in September and throughout the year. For a list of the events, click here.

What Can You Do?

  • Spread the truth - Ensure everyone around you knows the real risks of drinking in pregnancy
  • Have fun without alcohol – Start a trend – Have a “Mocktail Party”
  • If you are a woman who drinks, or you have sex with women who drink, ensure you use reliable birth control every time you have sex
  • Find out about Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines and follow them to decrease the risk of FASD, chronic disease and a potential addiction to alcohol

What Can Ontario Do to Decrease the Rate of FASD?

  • Ensure all health care providers discuss the dangers of alcohol use in pregnancy with all women and men in their childbearing years. With 50% of pregnancies being unplanned waiting until a woman is pregnant is too late.
  • Advocate for an integrated strategy to address FASD. Ontario lags behind western provinces that have organized seamless strategies to address FASD from prevention to diagnosis to intervention and support.
  • Ensure alcohol pricing increases as inflation increases
  • Advocate against the sale of alcohol in convenience stores. Areas that have introduced sales in convenience stores have found the rate of problems associated with alcohol use increases significantly – FASD is one of the problems that would likely increase
  • Ensure all establishments that sell alcohol have a sign posted warning about the dangers of drinking in pregnancy (Sandy’s Law)
  • Encourage more alcohol free events in communities and at universities and colleges
  • Increase efforts in universities, colleges and high schools to educate women especially about the dangers of drinking. They increase their risk of alcohol exposed pregnancies, future addictions and chronic diseases.

What Can You Do to Help Those Affected with FASD?

  • Educate yourself about FASD and how it impacts your community in many areas such as: education; employment; and social services
  • Talk to policy makers about the need to increase resources for diagnosis, intervention and appropriate education supports for children with FASD
  • Talk to and offer support to a parent/caregiver supporting a child with FASD. They are often isolated and judged.

This Press Package has been prepared in partnership with KidsAbility, KidsLINK, KWC FASD Consulting, Lutherwood, Paula Stanghetta & Associates Inc., Region of Waterloo Public Health, and the Waterloo Region FASD Caregiver Empowerment Alliance.

-30-

Media contact: Candace Harrington, Coordinator of Marketing and Communications, 519-883-2244 or CaHarrington@regionofwaterloo.ca

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FASD Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions 

Services for Pregnant or Parenting Women Involved with Alcohol and/or Drugs
Services for Pregnant or Parenting Women Involved with Alcohol and / or Drugs