Headlines - "No alcohol during pregnancy": a message that remains as relevant as ever

World Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day was held on September 9. On this occasion, Santé publique France presented the 2017 results of a telephone survey conducted on May 19–20, 2017, among 1,004 people (a representative sample of the French population aged 15 and older), aimed at describing knowledge and perceptions of the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. In 2017, there was a positive shift in public awareness regarding the message "zero alcohol during pregnancy": - 44% of French people (vs. 25% in 2015) spontaneously stated that there is no such thing as alcohol consumption that is risk-free for the child,- 64% vs. 53% in 2015 know that a glass of wine or beer is just as dangerous as a glass of hard liquor, - 33% vs. 20% in 2015 know that alcohol poses risks throughout pregnancy.Furthermore, certain misconceptions have declined significantly since the previous study in 2015: 21% vs. 27% in 2015 believe it is advisable to have a small glass of wine occasionally during pregnancy.A shift in social attitudes toward alcohol consumption during pregnancy is also evident: 75% say they are shocked by this behavior, compared to just 69% in 2015. The harmful effects of alcohol on a child’s health, such as growth delays, physical abnormalities, and memory disorders, are also better understood. Despite this encouraging awareness, a portion of the population still downplays the dangers of low or occasional alcohol consumption for pregnant women.That is why, throughout the month of September, Santé publique France is launching a national information campaign in the press and online, targeting both the general public and healthcare professionals. It is based on the key message "you drink a little, he drinks a lot" to promote the precautionary principle: "zero alcohol during pregnancy."