SAF: German women sensitized English uninformed

Political information on alcohol consumption and more specifically on fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which affects children whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy vary between European countries, the Germans being more informed on this subject than the British.

The discussion that followed the announcement of the opening of an investigation by the prosecutor of Lille on the lack of information of women whose child developed FAS has highlighted deficiencies in information and support in France. In other European countries, the situation appears to be variable.

Germany: many campaigns sensibilsation FAS

Information campaigns are regularly conducted in Germany to educate the general public and medical professionals about the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

More generally, the alcohol, the sale of alcoholic soft drinks (alkopops in German) is prohibited to minors and their price includes a tax of nearly one euro will go directly to fund prevention campaigns tale alcoholism.

The health risks associated with alcohol are considered known in Germany, a consumer automatically assumes responsibility for his behavior, say to Reuters Health as well Marita Völker-Albert, spokesman for the Federal Health Information Center (BZgA ) Gaámann Raphael, Director of the German Centre against the risks of dependence (DHS).

As such, they find it "very unlikely" that a preliminary investigation into the failure to inform pregnant women of the dangers of alcohol for their children, similar to the one launched by the prosecutor of Lille, to be conducted Germany.

All complaints against tobacco manufacturers for cardiovascular and tumor risk, or producers of sweet products for the risk of obesity, tooth decay and diabetes, were rejected.

In Germany, alcoholism affects nearly a quarter of women who visit an anonymous help center. Overall, nearly 1.5 million people have alcohol problems.

Of some 710,000 births per year, nearly 8,000 children are born to alcoholic mothers. In 2,000 cases, infants have serious lesions such SAF says Marita Völker-Albert.

The BZgA, agency of the German Ministry of Health is working to educate physicians and nursing staff on the risk for FAS, because they do not have, from a legal point of view, to prevent women exposed.

In addition to the disclosure of brochures and information campaigns at regular intervals, the BZgA offers a manual that gives them tips on recognizing signs of addiction and how to deal with the affected women physicians.

Alcohol and the risk of FAS have figured in the program of a symposium on addiction during pregnancy and the problem of dependent relatives, the DHS held in Tutzing Bavaria.

The symposium will present scientific results on the regulation of prospective parents facing an addiction, tells Reuters Health Raphael Gaámann. "The objective of the symposium was to define scientifically based recommendations for the management practice of patients."

One of the topics was how to disclose information through the medical and hospital staff, midwives, gynecologists and obstetricians, to educate the affected person and his entourage. "In summary, the symposium will attempt to give some answers to the question" Who does what and how? ", Says Raphael Gaámann.

UK: Mention the amount of alcohol on the labels

As in France, the UK, the issue of labeling arises. The British Medical Association (BMA) wants to be added warnings on the labels of alcoholic beverages, not specifically on FAS but overall the dangers of excessive drinking.

The BMA has called on the government to legislate to require producers to show the amount of alcohol units (one unit of alcohol is equivalent to a small glass of wine, a small dose of spirits or half a beer) contained in each product.

"It is the responsibility of the alcohol industry, both producers and traders to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the amount of alcohol contained in beverages they purchase and any dangerous consequences of excessive drinking, "said the BMA.

"The traders (including bars) should be required to publish information on the degree of alcohol content in beverages and clarify the definition of'' unit 'of alcohol outlets," said the BMA .

"In addition, there should be a legal requirement for all alcoholic beverages to include prominently a standard label that clearly underline the amount of alcohol in terms of units, information on the maximum recommended daily alcohol consumption and a warning about the dangers of excessive consumption. "

No policy against FAS

The demands of the BMA illustrate the growing concern in the UK about excessive alcohol consumption, particularly among young women.

However, the BMA has no specific policy on fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a problem that so far has received very little coverage in the UK.

Activists from the United Kingdom for the recognition of FAS have attempted to establish the profile, warning that it was the biggest cause of non-genetic intellectual disability in the Western world and it is possible only prevent 100%.

The website of the group, www.fasaware.co.uk shows bottles of cider, beer and wine labels that change every few seconds to display health warnings. For example, a label of a bottle of "special cellar Bordeaux" turns into "damage to the brain, terrible consequences."

According to the group, created by parents of children with FAS, the incidence of the syndrome and neurodevelopmental disorders related to alcohol is estimated at 9.1 per 1000 births.

The group says it is dangerous to drink alcohol throughout pregnancy and complains that the authorities did not warn women about the risks.

The Ministry of Health has resisted calls for clearer labeling on alcoholic beverages and as the BMA, it has no specific policy on FAS. He still recommended for pregnant women and those who want to be not to consume more than one or two units of alcohol per week.

The recommendation of the Department for the general population indicates that men should not drink more than three or four units of alcohol a day and women no more than 2 or 3 per day.

The charity Alcohol Concern believes that the consequences of alcohol consumption cost the NHS (National Health Service) over 3 billion pounds every year.

More than 5,000 deaths are directly related to alcohol in England and Wales each year, alcohol is involved in more than 33,000 deaths per year, according to the association.