Question
Asked By
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what initiatives they have recently introduced to make the public aware of recommended drinking levels during pregnancy.
My Lords, in May 2008, we began a national campaign to improve the public’s knowledge of units of alcohol and the link between alcohol consumption and health. As my noble friend will know, this includes highlighting advice about alcohol consumption when pregnant. Our voluntary agreement with the industry asks it to put a short version of an alcohol-in-pregnancy message on its labels, as agreed by the four Chief Medical Officers of the United Kingdom.
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Last May, in the Committee stage of the Alcohol Labelling Bill, the noble Baroness said words to the effect that, if by the end of 2008 voluntary labelling had not occurred, action would be taken to make it mandatory. I have been looking at labels in supermarkets, but almost in vain, as the only thing that I have seen is a small symbol that would require a magnifying glass to understand. It seems that the drinks industry has pulled the wool over the Government’s eyes, but I hope that my noble friend can assure me to the contrary.
My Lords, my noble friend knows that I share his concern about this issue. We know that, so far, health and unit information labelling on alcoholic drinks has been used only to a limited extent. As he said, the labels carry a wide variety of elements of the agreement, which include how the advice is portrayed and whether there is advice on pregnancy. We are committed to improving information on labels, whether through a voluntary agreement or a legal requirement. We have been working with the industry to improve compliance and I think that we have given it every chance to get this right. We hope to see an improved rate of compliance in the second stage of our monitoring, as it certainly was not right during the first stage, and we expect to report on that in April. That report will help to determine the next steps, including whether we have to move from a voluntary approach to legislation.
My Lords, does the Minister agree that, with all the press reports and media programmes telling us about research showing this and that, it must be a bit of a nightmare to be pregnant nowadays?
Oh!
Well, it certainly would be for me, my Lords. I even found something among the Library papers here showing that, if you feed alcohol to rats, their offspring are born loving the smell of alcohol. It makes me wonder what happened to my family. The confusion out there is a very serious matter for young women. When will the Department of Health send out a clear and simple message that it should be moderation in all things, especially when pregnant?
My Lords, I certainly agree with the noble Baroness on the idea of being pregnant at this stage in our lives. The Government’s advice is quite clear: pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol. To minimise the risk to their babies if they choose to drink, they should not drink more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week and should not get drunk. Pregnant women are given that advice by doctors, nurses, the Chief Medical Officers and NICE.
My Lords, does the Minister agree that women are very likely to get confused by the different messages and that those who most need to hear the messages are least likely to receive them? Other things concerning the physical and mental health of our children are far more serious, as is pointed out in the report published today, A Good Childhood, which encompasses the whole problem. The serious problems of poverty and family breakdown in this country will do more harm to the next generation than will be dealt with by any amount of warnings in small print on labels.
My Lords, the noble Baroness points to a wider societal issue and, of course, makes a very good point. However, that does not mean that, because we cannot immediately solve that problem, we should not, for example, promote the Know Your Limits campaign, which is about challenging public tolerance of drunkenness and harmful drinking, raising public awareness of units and ensuring that everyone has the information that they need to estimate how much they should drink.
My Lords, the Minister referred to the NICE advice that women should not drink at all during the first three months of their pregnancy, but is that not spoilt by its going on to say that, if you must drink, confine it to one or two drinks? Is that not part of the confusion to which my noble friend referred? What information is available in doctors’ surgeries, where there is practically nothing about drinking in pregnancy, although they are filled with stuff about smoking?
My Lords, my doctor’s surgery certainly has large posters about drinking in pregnancy. That advice is realistic: if you are trying to conceive, you should avoid drink; if you are pregnant, you should avoid drink; but if you wish to have a drink, you should have a very modest amount indeed.
Arrangement of BusinessAnnouncement3.13 pm
My Lords, I am sure that it will not have escaped anyone’s notice that we are experiencing very heavy wintry conditions today. I am sure that the whole House will want to place on record its support for and congratulations to all our staff who have made it in to make our Sitting possible.
And noble Lords.
Too true, my Lords. To allow staff of the House to get home safely and at a reasonable hour tonight, the House will not sit beyond nine o’clock. My noble friend Lord Mandelson is about to make a Statement on the industrial action at Lindsey oil refinery. To accommodate that and to make necessary progress on the Banking Bill, we have postponed tonight’s Question for Short Debate in the name of the noble Viscount, Lord Falkland. I am grateful to the noble Viscount for his understanding in these trying circumstances and for agreeing to withdraw his Question.
I understand that the Refreshment Department is encountering severe staff shortages. As a result, there will be no House dinner this evening. The only services available will be drinks served in the Peers’ Guest Room and the Bishops’ Bar, which will also serve soup and sandwiches. I understand that House staff will be notified about arrangements separately.
My Lords, if the present weather continues, will the House authorities see that the car parks are cleared for use, because at the moment more Members are arriving on wheels than can comfortably be accommodated?
My Lords, I am not sure that that necessarily falls to the Chief Whip, but I shall pass on those views.