CDC: All Woman Of Child-Bearing Age Shouldn't Drink Unless They're On Birth Control

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The newest recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control is that all women of child-bearing age should not drink alcohol unless they're taking birth control.

The CDC reports that millions of women could be risking exposing their developing babies to alcohol. The concern is fetal alcohol syndrome.

KDKA's Dr. Maria Simbra explains what happens to infants who are affected: "They tend to be born smaller. They can have heart problems, kidney problems, brain problems, lower IQ's, and these are issues that can affect them for their entire life."

The CDC says about half of all pregnancies are not planned.

"So it's these situations when you're not intending on getting pregnant or not knowing your pregnant where the risk can occur," she says.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

But a restaurant trade group believes the CDC's recommendation goes too far.

Sarah Longwell, managing director at the American Beverage Institute, said in a written statement: "The CDC's view on alcohol is incredibly puritanical. Alcohol can be safely and responsibly consumed by women, even if they're theoretically capable of having children."

"While the excessive use of alcohol during pregnancy clearly has a harmful effect on unborn children, advising all fertile women to avoid any alcohol simply isn't a realistic solution to this public health problem."

The CDC says there is no known safe level of alcohol at any stage of pregnancy.