French Wine Makers Sued Over Lack of Alcohol Warnings
Three mothers in France have started legal action against wine manufacturers,
saying they failed to warn pregnant women about the dangers of alcohol,
the British Medical Journal reported Aug. 14.
State prosecutors in Lille have opened a probe to investigate the
complaints brought by the three women, all of whom gave birth to
children with fetal alcohol syndrome.
Benoit Titran, the lawyer representing the three mothers, said
wine makers have done little to ensure that women are aware of the
risks of drinking while pregnant.
"Producers of alcohol know about the risks of alcohol for
pregnant women," said Titran, adding that numerous scientific
studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can damage
a fetus. "Two glasses a day or a peak consumption of five glasses
in an evening are enough for this irreversible syndrome."
Titran is calling for warning labels to be prominently placed on
all alcoholic drinks to inform consumers about the risk of drinking
during pregnancy. Although French wine imported to the United States
displays warning labels in English, the labels are not on French
wine sold in France.
"Why does an American consumer have this information and not
a French consumer?" Titran asked.
Philippe Douste-Blazy, France's minister of health, said he would
push for warnings labels on alcohol sold in France, as well as a
public-awareness campaign to warn pregnant women about the dangers
of alcohol.
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