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Signs such as this are common in the Canadian province of Ontario. Paul Hosford/TheJournal.ie
warning
Drinks industry calls for pregnancy warning labels
Reacting to research that shows a decline in pregnant women drinking, an alcohol lobby group says drinks should carry warning labels.
A LOBBY GROUP for the alcohol industry has today called for mandatory pregnancy warning labels on drinks.
Responding to new research that showed a “marked reduction” in consumption of alcohol by pregnant women, the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland has reiterated its call for the labels.
Kathryn D’Arcy, director of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland said: “There is a clear need to encourage consumers to take personal responsibility for their drinking patterns and to drink in moderation.
We have been calling for the inclusion of mandatory pregnancy warning labelling on all alcoholic products since 2007.
The research was conducted by a team of medical experts attached to the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland and has been published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science and found that 2.5 per cent of pregnant women in Ireland drink three or more times a week.
Labelling is common throughout many parts of the world and has been adopted in the UK.
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