Bill Esterson wants it to be made compulsory for all alcoholic beverages to carry compulsory warning labels directed at expectant mothers.

The Labour MP for Sefton Central on Merseyside presented his Alcohol Labeling (Pregnancy) Bill during this morning`s session of Parliament, after PMQs.

Mr Esterson told MPs that 7,000 children a year were born in the UK damaged by alcohol, equating to one in every 100 births.

He said: `Mild brain damage can be caused to children by even small amounts of alcohol at the wrong time during pregnancy, especially in the early stages when an embryo does not have the protection of a blood stream.

`Much scientific evidence suggests that there is no safe limit when it comes to drinking in pregnancy but sadly not everyone is aware of the dangers.`

`This is a vitally important issue,` he said ahead of introducing his bill today.

`Everything possible needs to be done to bring this to an end, and MPs in Parliament have the power to take steps to do just that.

`There has been confusion for pregnant women over whether they should or shouldn`t drink during pregnancy.

`There has been confusion over how much they can drink.

`The best advice is it is better to be safe than sorry. If you`re pregnant don`t drink.
`But there is still some ambiguity from the Government on this.`

He told MPs: `My Bill is about making sure that all the facts are available and about avoiding confusing or conflicting advice, whether from Government or elsewhere.

`The labels in place now are inadequate, that is why I am calling for a mandatory system of labelling that is clear, that cannot be easily missed and that gives the best advice.

`That advice must be not to drink at all while pregnant or trying to conceive.

`Such a system of labelling should be designed to help cut the number of children damaged at great cost to themselves and to society.`

Mr Esterson`s drive to protect unborn children from the effects of alcohol was inspired by his wife Caroline.

She learned of the devastating effects of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) when attending a meeting on the subject as part of her role on Sefton Adoption Panel.

Babies born with FASD are prone to suffering learning difficulties, memory problems, hyperactivity and poor problem-solving skills.

Those diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol syndrome (FAS) are also known to suffer birth defects, including a smaller head circumference, heart problems, limb damage, kidney damage, damage to the brain, eye problems, hearing problems and specific facial characteristics.

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