Policies on prevention of alcohol harms in pregnancy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
1
Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University Of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
2
Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University Of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
3
NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, The University Of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
4
CICADA Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2165
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Policy to advance alcohol control to reduce population harms remains contested, especially as the alcohol industry may obstruct national policy efforts. In fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevention, alcohol control measures (e.g. taxation and limits on advertising) are marginalised relative to awareness, education and clinical initiatives, despite their potential to change behaviours and reduce prenatal alcohol exposure at scale. We aimed to identify and evaluate global and Australian policy documents on the prevention of alcohol harms in pregnancy and FASD.
METHODS:
We conducted a structured Google-based internet search to identify globally relevant and Australian policies, plans, inquiry reports and impact statements published between January 2012 and April 2025 by international bodies, professional associations, Australian and state/territory governments. Using a deductive thematic framework, two reviewers coded content and appraised document quality with a published structured assessment tool.
RESULTS:
Thirty-four documents met the inclusion criteria: four globally relevant documents and 30 Australian documents (21 national and nine state/territory). The most frequently addressed themes were treatment and support for women using alcohol in pregnancy (67.6%), stigma (67.6%), health literacy (64.7%), workforce training (64.7%), FASD services (61.8%) and alcohol control (61.8%). Most documents were rated medium to high quality.
CONCLUSIONS:
Effective prevention of alcohol harms in pregnancy and FASD requires comprehensive policies that include alcohol control, health literacy, screening and multisectoral collaboration. Policies for preventing alcohol harms in pregnancy and FASD appear to be moving from promoting awareness and service responses towards more explicit inclusion of alcohol control, consistent with a comprehensive public health approach. This aligns with stakeholder support for stronger regulation. Overall, our findings suggest the need for comprehensive, well-resourced, and actionable policies to effectively prevent alcohol-related harms. Given the potential for commercial influence on alcohol policy, it is critical to safeguard policy processes and manage conflicts of interest.
Policy to advance alcohol control to reduce population harms remains contested, especially as the alcohol industry may obstruct national policy efforts. In fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevention, alcohol control measures (e.g. taxation and limits on advertising) are marginalised relative to awareness, education and clinical initiatives, despite their potential to change behaviours and reduce prenatal alcohol exposure at scale. We aimed to identify and evaluate global and Australian policy documents on the prevention of alcohol harms in pregnancy and FASD.
METHODS:
We conducted a structured Google-based internet search to identify globally relevant and Australian policies, plans, inquiry reports and impact statements published between January 2012 and April 2025 by international bodies, professional associations, Australian and state/territory governments. Using a deductive thematic framework, two reviewers coded content and appraised document quality with a published structured assessment tool.
RESULTS:
Thirty-four documents met the inclusion criteria: four globally relevant documents and 30 Australian documents (21 national and nine state/territory). The most frequently addressed themes were treatment and support for women using alcohol in pregnancy (67.6%), stigma (67.6%), health literacy (64.7%), workforce training (64.7%), FASD services (61.8%) and alcohol control (61.8%). Most documents were rated medium to high quality.
CONCLUSIONS:
Effective prevention of alcohol harms in pregnancy and FASD requires comprehensive policies that include alcohol control, health literacy, screening and multisectoral collaboration. Policies for preventing alcohol harms in pregnancy and FASD appear to be moving from promoting awareness and service responses towards more explicit inclusion of alcohol control, consistent with a comprehensive public health approach. This aligns with stakeholder support for stronger regulation. Overall, our findings suggest the need for comprehensive, well-resourced, and actionable policies to effectively prevent alcohol-related harms. Given the potential for commercial influence on alcohol policy, it is critical to safeguard policy processes and manage conflicts of interest.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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