Proof Alliance NC

Alcohol and Pregnancy Don't Mix.

We have the PROOF.

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding alcohol and pregnancy.

THE TRUTH IS CLEAR.

There is no known safe amount, time or type of alcohol to drink during pregnancy.

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In NC, 41 percent of pregnancies are unplanned
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1 in 7 pregnancies in the United States are exposed to alcohol
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An estimated 8,628 babies are born in NC with alcohol exposure each year
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1 in 20 United States children have an FASD

What is FASD?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a range of effects that can occur when a developing embryo is prenatally exposed to alcohol, even before there is a confirmed pregnancy. FASD can include physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.

Since there is no known safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed during pregnancy, it is advised by all major medical associations, including the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the U.S. Surgeon General, that if a person is pregnant or could become pregnant, they should abstain from drinking alcohol.

What is FASD?
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

The Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, the developing baby then has prenatal alcohol exposure. There are many factors that can lead to unintentional prenatal alcohol exposure. When alcohol crosses through the placenta, it affects how a fetus is developing.1 It can be especially harmful to the fetus’s brain, which is developing throughout the entire pregnancy.2

Someone with prenatal alcohol exposure may have trouble with things like:

  • Attention
  • Behavior
  • Learning
  • Language
  • Memory 3

They may also experience:

  • Heart problems 4
  • Increased risk of infections 5
  • Difficulty with movement 6
  • Other health issues

The Safest Choice is None.

No Safe Amount

Any amount of alcohol, even if it’s just one glass of wine, passes from the pregnant person to the fetus. 7 All major health groups state that there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 8, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)9, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)10 and the U.S. Surgeon General. 11

No Safe Type

Any type of alcohol can cause harm to a developing fetus. It makes no difference if the alcohol is wine, beer or hard liquor. 12

No Safe Time

There is no safe time during pregnancy when it is safe to drink alcohol. Drinking during any of the three trimesters can affect the fetus.
The Safest Choice is None.

Celebrate an Alcohol-Free Pregnancy

Proof Alliance NC encourages you to celebrate an alcohol-free pregnancy. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a range of lifelong physical, behavioral and intellectual disabilities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD cannot be cured, but it can be prevented by not drinking alcohol – including red wine, white wine, wine coolers, beer or hard liquor during your pregnancy.

Magnificient Mocktails - The Baby Bellini

The Baby Bellini

No need for prosecco to break out the fancy glassware. This alcohol-free version of the bellini brings a bubbly dose of sophistication to your morning brunch, complete with a fresh peach garnish.
Magnificient Mocktails - Winter Cider Punch

Winter Cider Punch

Cozy up with warming flavors of cinnamon, apple, and cranberry in this striking punch worthy of a party. This magnificient mocktail can be served either cold or warm.
Magnificient Mocktails - No-jito

No-jito

No need to wait for 5 o’clock.
You can enjoy a taste of island life
whenever, wherever, with this refreshing,
alcohol-free riff on a mojito.
Full Listing
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Find the Perfect Pour Along North Carolina’s Mocktail Trail

Alcohol-free drinks have evolved far beyond their humble beginnings, when options felt limited to seltzer and lime.

From Boone to Kitty Hawk, restaurants, shops and tasting rooms are stirring up delicious alternatives that are refreshingly creative and sophisticated.

Click to View Article

Pregnancy Calculator

How much alcohol is safe to drink during pregnancy? Is red wine safer than beer? Is drinking during the first trimester more harmful than in the third?

Use this tool to find out.

Pregnancy Calculator

The Proof

1 Burd L, Blair J, Dropps K. Prenatal alcohol exposure, blood alcohol concentrations and alcohol elimination rates for the mother, fetus and newborn. Journal of Perinatology. 2012;32:652-659.

2 Hendrickson et al. Cortical gyrification is abnormal in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. NeuroImage: Clinical. 2017;15 391-400.

3 Flak AL, Su S, Bertrand J, Denny CH, Kesmodel US, Cogswell ME. The association of mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neuropsychological outcomes: A Meta-analysis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014;38(1):214-26.

4 Westrup S. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: as prevalent as autism?. Educational Psychology in Practice. 2013;29(3): 309-325.

5 Noor S, Milligan ED. Lifelong Impacts of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Neuroimmune Function. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018.

6 Taggart TC, Simmons RW, Thomas JD, Riley EP. Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Exhibit Atypical Gait Characteristics. Alcoholism: Clinical &Experimental Research. 2017;41(9):1648-1655.

7 Burd L, Blair J, Dropps K. Prenatal alcohol exposure, blood alcohol concentrations and alcohol elimination rates for the mother, fetus and newborn. Journal of Perinatology. 2012;32:652-659.

8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html

9 American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Says No Amount of Alcohol Should Be Considered Safe During Pregnancy. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Says-No-Amount-of-Alcohol-Should-be-Considered-Safe-During-Pregnancy.aspx

10 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) prevention program. https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/ACOG-Departments/Tobacco–Alcohol–and-Substance-Abuse/Fetal-Alcohol-Spectrum-Disorders-Prevention-Program

11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5409a6.htm

12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol Use in Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html

Contact Us

Lauren Borchert, BS
Program Manager,
NC Fetal Alcohol Prevention Program
Proof Alliance NC

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Contract with NC DHHS

Funding in whole or in part and/or supported by the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, made possible by Grant Number B08TI087057 from the Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse from SAMSHA.