Support alcohol-free pregnancy
to keep pregnancy alcohol-free
We all have a role to play
To help protect future generations, we can all create a safe, supportive environment, whether we know that someone is hapū (pregnant) or not.
If there is a chance someone might be pregnant, it's important for them not to drink alcohol.
Because we do
this together
In Aotearoa New Zealand, generations of people see drinking alcohol as a normal part of life. However, alcohol can have long-term harmful effects on the health and wellbeing of ourselves, our whānau and our children.
That’s why it’s important that we all work together to support healthy, alcohol-free pregnancies to prevent the life-long impacts of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
This is everyone’s responsibility. We all have a role to play to protect future generations and support alcohol-free pregnancy.
What feeds me
feeds you too
FASD is preventable
Everything we consume during pregnancy affects the baby.
When we drink alcohol, the alcohol in our blood cells can pass through the placenta from a mother to her child. The range of effects caused by alcohol exposure before birth is called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
FASD is a diagnostic term for a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by any exposure to alcohol before birth. The main effects from this exposure are to the brain but alcohol can also affect other parts of the body.
People who have FASD can experience complex physical, behavioural, learning and intellectual problems that persist throughout their lives. Impairment also varies between people depending on when and how much alcohol was consumed during the development of their brain and other parts of their bodies before they were born.
Although FASD is preventable, many pregnancies are unplanned and damage from alcohol exposure may happen before a woman knows she is pregnant and stops drinking alcohol.
If planning a pregnancy, the best advice is to stop drinking alcohol in advance. If you’re not planning to get pregnant, contraception can help prevent exposure to alcohol. Find more information at protectedandproud.nz.
Health NZ and the Ministry of Health advise to stop drinking alcohol if you could be pregnant, are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant.
There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Loved ones can support
in simple ways too.
Try not to pressure anyone into drinking alcohol
Support people’s choice not to drink - we don’t need to ask why
Find other ways to socialise and have fun together - especially if you know that someone is hapū
We can also work with our community to advocate for wider changes in how we access alcohol, and keep challenging our drinking culture in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Find out more about the sort of action you can take to nurture the future within and reduce the harm caused by alcohol in your community at resources.alcohol.org.nz
Support alcohol-free pregnancy
Nurture the future within
Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai
Nurture the seed so it will bloom
The more we share this important message the greater the impact. Your support in reaching our communities is important and we ask that you help to share this campaign across your social networks.
If you’re working in the community with whānau, who are or might be hapū (pregnant), you can use the downloadable assets linked below to share how important it is to support alcohol-free pregnancy.
Brought to you by
Health NZ - Te Whatu Ora are responsible for improving services and outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system – through local, district, regional, and national level functions.
Health NZ leads the FASD Cross-Agency Implementation Group, which brings together government agencies and sector partners to support implementation of the FASD Action Plan 2025–2028.
This Action Plan is supported by a programme of work aimed at strengthening education, capability, access, and support for individuals, whānau, and communities affected by FASD, while also supporting women to stay alcohol-free during pregnancy.
Learn more about these initiatives at FASD Action Plan 2025–2028 | Health NZ
Need help
with your drinking?
Visit the Alcohol & Drug Helpline
Free call the helpline
0800 787 797
Free text
8681
Find advice on how to talk to someone about their drinking
alcohol.org.nz