Women should not drink any alcohol while they are pregnant because of the risks to their unborn child, an MP said today.
Bill Esterson wants it to be made compulsory for all alcoholic beverages to carry compulsory warning labels directed at expectant mothers.
Mr Esterson told MPs that 7,000 children a year were born in the UK damaged by alcohol, equating to one in every 100 births.
He said: 'Mild brain damage can be caused to children by even small amounts of alcohol at the wrong time during pregnancy, especially in the early stages when an embryo does not have the protection of a blood stream.
'Much scientific evidence suggests that there is no safe limit when it comes to drinking in pregnancy but sadly not everyone is aware of the dangers.'
'This is a vitally important issue,' he said ahead of introducing his bill today.
'Everything possible needs to be done to bring this to an end, and MPs in Parliament have the power to take steps to do just that.
'There has been confusion for pregnant women over whether they should or shouldn't drink during pregnancy.
'There has been confusion over how much they can drink.
'The best advice is it is better to be safe than sorry. If you're pregnant don't drink.
'But there is still some ambiguity from the Government on this.
MP Bill Esterson presented his Alcohol Labeling (Pregnancy) Bill in Parliament today, urging pregnant women to stop drinking in a bid to protect their unborn babies from Foetal Alcohol syndrome
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