The Health Ministry yesterday launched a campaign to discourage expectant mothers from drinking alcohol, even if statistics show the figure of abuse is negligible.

George Grech, director of the national agency against dependencies Sedqa, confirmed that only one baby every 10 years is born with a foetal abstinence syndrome, which causes the foetus to become addicted to substances like drugs and alcohol.

“It’s not only about mothers,” Health Minister Joe Cassar said at the launch of a new €5,000 campaign intended to promote pregnancy without alcohol.

Consuming alcohol, even in limited amounts, can be detrimental to the newborn because it may cause pre-mature births and low IQ.

“Fathers have to show their support: it’s only fair that they, too, do not drink when they are expecting,” Dr Cassar said, adding that excessive alcohol intake might cause fertility problems for men too.

The idea of the campaign is intended to tackle the overall increase in alcohol intake of the Maltese, in a roundabout way.

“If the parents stop drinking when they are planning for a baby, and throughout the pregnancy, then they ’d be only one step away from curbing alcohol drinking altogether,” said Dr Cassar, clearly aiming for a healthier, alcoholic-abstinent society. Statistics, he added, keep showing that alcohol is closely and fatally connected to cancer.

The campaign consists mainly of radio adverts and pamphlets, which suggest to expectant mothers and fathers to live a healthy lifestyle, relax with good music or walks and celebrate by drinking non-alcoholic “mocktails” – fresh fruit juices.