WHO wants to ban women 18-50 from drinking alcohol
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suggested that women aged 18-50 should not drink alcohol to prevent possible harm to an unborn baby.
The WHO’s Draft Global Alcohol Action Plan for 2022-2030, advised that women aged between 18 and 50 refrain from drinking alcohol because it may harm their chances of giving birth.
WHO wants to raise awareness of health issues related to drinking when women might be pregnant and wants to prevent drinking during pregnancy.
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The organisation mentioned that the harmful use of alcohol causes about three million deaths annually.
According to the latest WHO global estimates, 283-million people aged 15 years and older – 237-million men and 46 million women – live with alcohol use disorders (AUD).
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The organisation further mentioned that this plan aims to "boost effective implementation of the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority and considerably reduce morbidity and mortality due to alcohol use - over and above general morbidity and mortality trends - as well as associated social consequences, and with that to improve the health and wellbeing of populations globally”.
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WHO believes in spreading awareness to children, pregnant women, women of childbearing age and the rest of the general public about alcohol consumption.
"It is necessary to raise awareness among decision-makers and the general public about the risks
and harms associated with alcohol consumption. Appropriate attention should be given to
prevention of the initiation of drinking among children and adolescents, prevention of drinking
among pregnant women and women of childbearing age, and protection of people from pressures
to drink, especially in societies with high levels of alcohol consumption where heavy drinkers are
encouraged to drink even more."
An international day or week of awareness on the harmful use of
alcohol or a “World No Alcohol Day/Week” could help to focus and reinforce public attention on
the problem.
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