can I eat alcohol?
The safest approach is no alcohol at all during pregnancy — that's the unified advice of the NHS, CDC and WHO. No amount, type or timing of alcohol has been proven safe for a developing baby.
why it matters
Alcohol passes freely through the placenta, and a baby's liver is one of the last organs to mature. Drinking in pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders — lifelong effects on learning and behaviour. Because a safe threshold has never been established, guidance is simply zero.
how to have it safely
There's no safe amount, but there are good stand-ins: alcohol-free beers and wines (0.0%), a mocktail, or sparkling water in a nice glass. The ritual survives; the risk doesn't.
worth knowing
- UK, US and WHO guidance all agree: the safest amount of alcohol in pregnancy is none.
- Drinks before you knew you were pregnant: the risk from early, pre-awareness drinking is generally low — stop now and mention it to your midwife rather than worry alone.
- Alcohol in cooked dishes mostly evaporates but not entirely — an occasional wine-based sauce is a negligible concern.
- '0.0%' labelled drinks are fine; 'low alcohol' (up to 1.2%) drinks are not the same thing.
common questions
I drank before I found out I was pregnant — have I harmed the baby?
This is extremely common, and the risk from drinking before a positive test is considered low. The most useful step is simply stopping now. Tell your midwife — they'll reassure you, not judge you.
Is a single glass of wine on a special occasion really a problem?
The honest answer: no safe level has been identified, so official advice is none at all. It's not that one glass is proven harmful — it's that no one can promise it isn't, so guidance errs on the side of the baby.
also in drinks
Aligned with guidance from the NHS, FDA and WHO. This is general information, not personal medical advice — check with your midwife or doctor about your own situation. How we write.