In order to help their pregnant wife avoid drinking alcohol, the majority of expectant fathers resort to this practice less during pregnancy.
- In a new survey, 8% of men said they would stop drinking alcohol while their partner was pregnant.
- 45% of men also said they reduced their consumption to support their pregnant partners.
- “From the moment a desire to become pregnant arises, the involvement of fathers is essential to support future mothers in an alcohol-free pregnancy,” believes Dr Denis Lamblin, president of SAF France.
The SAF France association presented the results of a new French study on the behavior of partners during their partner’s pregnancy.
The survey, conducted in collaboration with the OpinionWay firm, revealed in particular that 53% of men voluntarily reduced their alcohol consumption to support their partner during pregnancy.
8% of men reported stopping drinking alcohol during pregnancy
In detail, the survey shows that:
– 8% of men reported stopping drinking alcohol during their partner’s pregnancy.
– 45% of men said they reduced their consumption to support their pregnant partners.
– 31% have not stopped or reduced their alcohol consumption.
– 16% have not changed anything because they do not consume alcohol.
Pregnancy without alcohol: “the involvement of fathers is essential”
Dr Denis Lamblin, President of SAF France, welcomes these results. “These figures are encouraging and demonstrate the positive impact of our awareness campaigns. They show that the actions carried out in the regions and at the national level are resulting in concrete changes in family behaviors,” explains the doctor. “From the moment the desire for pregnancy arises, the involvement of fathers is essential to support future mothers in an alcohol-free pregnancy,” he adds.
Although the involvement of spouses is evolving positively, the study conducted among 1,001 French women also highlighted a persistent challenge. 27% of the women surveyed continue to consume alcohol during their pregnancy even after being informed that they were pregnant (a figure that rises to 38% in Île-de-France). “These figures are corroborated by the Court of Auditors’ report on perinatal policy from May 2024. The main reason given is that mothers do not know the real consequences of fetal alcohol syndrome,” indicate the authors of the study.
Pregnancy: “Alcohol is a teratogenic toxin that crosses the placenta”
Every year in France, it is estimated that 15,000 babies are born with FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome), making it the leading cause of preventable disability in our country. “Alcohol is a teratogenic (birth-causing) toxin that crosses the placenta very easily and damages the baby’s developing cells, particularly those in the brain. Just one drink is enough,” explains and warns Dr. Denis Lamblin.
These disorders can lead to lifelong disabilities in terms of health, cognitive development and social behavior. “There is therefore an urgent need to step up prevention efforts to reduce these figures and protect future generations,” conclude the authors of the survey.
