The country’s three largest maternity hospitals have joined with Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, to warn of the damage that can be caused to the unborn child by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

The National Maternity Hospital, The Rotunda Hospital and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital have said it is in a child’s best interests for a prospective mother not to drink alcohol while pregnant, due to the risk of damaging the physical and mental development of the unborn child – damage which can have serious, life-long consequences.