Drinking while pregnant could become criminal offence, say women's charities ahead of landmark case

Drinking alcohol while pregnant could become a criminal offence, women's charities have said ahead of a hearing at the Court of Appeal tomorrow. A council is seeking criminal injuries compensation for a six-year-old girl with “growth retardation” caused by her mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

If the court rules the woman committed a crime it could pave the way for pregnant women's behaviour to be criminalised, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) and Birthrights. The little girl was born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which can cause retarded growth, facial abnormalities and intellectual impairment.

Lawyers representing the local authority, in the North West of England, are seeking to prove that the six-year-old's mother committed a crime under the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861.


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/drinking-while-pregnant-could-become-criminal-offence-say-womens-charities-ahead-of-landmark-case-9838701.html

thin end of the wedge....

more interfering nanny state

consider this, If THIS is allowed, there is no longer any bar to pregnant women being forced into "nuturing centers"
(at thier own expense of course)
there is no bar to forcing a total alcohol ban upon the household where a prgnant women lives (just in case you understand)
there is no bar to banning pregnant women from pubs (just in case you understand)
there is no bar to enforced random alcohol testing

there is no lawful bar then to saying am couple who wish to have a child become teetotal for the 6 months before till well after (since drinking by the father can adversely affect (in some rare cases) the sperm quality

this needs chucking out as an infringement of personal liberty and better ways to deal with it found....

I agree with your views Victor, I can see the view with over excess of drugs and alcohol, but think this is opening up a can of worms.

agree with victor, a step too far