The Worst Countries For Drinking During Pregnancy

Ireland is the country with the worst rates of alcohol consumption during pregnancy worldwide. According to a study by The Lancet, an estimated 60 percent of Irish mothers drink alcohol while pregnant, considerably higher than second-placed Belarus (46.6 percent) and third-placed Denmark (45.8 percent). 9 out of the world's top 10 countries for drinking during pregnancy can be found in Europe with Australia the exception.

The study linked drinking rates during pregnancy to rates of foetal alcohol syndrome. Globally, it found that about 10 percent of mothers drink alcohol while pregnant with 1 in 67 delivering a child with fetal alcohol syndrome. The United States had a lower rate of consumption than most European countries at 14.8 percent while unsurprisingly, the lowest consumption rates were recorded in the Middle East.