Host: MEP Elzbieta Lukacijewska (EPP, Poland)
Location: European Parliament – Brussels
Date: Wednesday 7th September
Time: 9.30 am until 4.30pm
This event is jointly organized by European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) and the Polish State Agency for State Agency for Prevention of Alcohol-Related Problems (PARPA) to mark International Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Day.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the EU.
Unfortunately, many women are not aware that throughout pregnancy, even at low levels of exposure, alcohol interferes with the normal development and can seriously damage the unborn child. Case studies across Europe show there are a substantial number of women who continue to drink during pregnancy; it ranges from 25% in Spain to 35%-50% in the Netherlands and even higher rates in the UK or Ireland (79%).
The umbrella term, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These can include physical, mental, behavioural and or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.
This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss different policy options to protect the unborn babies from the negative effects of alcohol at EU level as well as share experiences and good practices.
For more information, please contact: aleksandra.kaczmarek@eurocare.org
