Internet Lulls Expectant Mothers into false Sense of Security Regarding Alcohol Consumption, Swiss Study finds
By Dr. Michael Lee, World-Today-News.com – September 12, 2025
A new study by Search Switzerland reveals concerning trends in online details surrounding alcohol consumption during pregnancy, potentially contributing to the tragically high rate of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in the country. Every year, approximately 1,700 children are born in Switzerland with conditions stemming from prenatal alcohol exposure - a number experts deem far too high.
Expectant mothers increasingly turn to the internet for guidance,but the information they find isn’t always accurate or adequately emphasizes the risks. Search Switzerland investigated digital platforms to assess the quality and clarity of advice offered to pregnant women.
“There are too many if you expect it over the generations,” explains Luca Notari,project manager at Search Switzerland,in an interview with RSI,the radio and television of Italian Switzerland. “We speak of several ten thousand adolescents and adults who live with it,and that’s really too many.Switzerland is therefore at a very high level worldwide and at a medium to high level across Europe.”
The Spectrum of Harm
Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in a range of disorders, categorized by severity. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) represents the most serious outcome, characterized by physical malformations, growth delays, and notable neurological and cognitive impairments. However,a broader spectrum of less severe disorders also exists,manifesting as learning difficulties,memory and attention problems,emotional dysregulation,and behavioral issues.
A Culture of Alcohol Consumption
Notari attributes Switzerland’s high FASD rates to a societal normalization of alcohol. “In fact, women who decide in one evening not to consume alcohol are asked weather they are pregnant. Not consuming alcohol is often the exception and not the rule,” he stated, highlighting a cultural dynamic where abstaining from alcohol is often seen as unusual.
The study also criticizes the framing of discussions around alcohol consumption in Switzerland, noting that decreases in
