Ask Women About Drinking, Doctors Urged

Doctors should routinely ask younger women about how much alcohol they drink, a Canadian group says. The advice comes from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. It’s part of a new set of guidelines. The purpose is to help prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in children. It’s unclear how much risk is linked to drinking small amounts, the group’s president told Canadian Press. But the guidelines urge a cautious course. They say women should be advised not to drink if they are or might become pregnant. About 3% of Canadian babies are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, an expert told Canadian Press. The risk of this disorder is 40% for children of heavy drinkers, the expert said. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published the guidelines August 12.