On the International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day, Vin & Société, our National Coordinator in France, invited professional and influential women in wine, who are also mothers, to share their own experience.

Holding different positions in the wine industry (sommelier, wine consultant, wine influencer), these women highlighted how important it is to remind any mother to be that drinking alcohol while pregnant can harm the health of the baby. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a preventable condition, it is thus crucial to raise public awareness about prenatal alcohol exposure. Women shouldn’t feel ashamed to refuse a drink especially when pregnant and breastfeeding and should feel confident to ask for alcohol-free beverages.

Click here for more information on alcohol consumption and pregnancy.

The interviewed wine professionals also shared a few tips on how to reconcile a career in wine and pregnancy. They all agreed on the fact that being a (future) mother does not mean that you should put your professional life on hold: for example, you can still take part in wine tastings if you spit correctly and you rinse your mouth with water. If you speak French, you can check the video of the interviews here.

Last but not least, the International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day was an opportunity for Vin et Société to reshare its awareness campaign  “It is worth waiting 9 months for a good wine”, launched in 2019 with the aim to inform that no alcohol during pregnancy is the safest option.