Thursday, November 05, 2009

News Release: “Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix” New Campaign to Begin in Liquor Stores Across Utah

State of Utah
DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL

NEWS ADVISORY


  Julia A. Robertson          Doug Murakami
Program Manager, Pregnancy Risk Line    DABC Alcohol Education Director
Utah Department of Health        Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
801-538-9161      801-977-6820
jrobertson@utah.gov       dmurakami@utah.gov
 
    
“Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix”
New Campaign to Begin in Liquor Stores Across Utah


WHAT:  The DABC, the Departments of Health and Human Services, and the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice have collaborated with the Utah Fetal Alcohol Coalition to raise awareness and reduce the number of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy.

The new campaign includes: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders education cards in English and Spanish placed in all state liquor stores throughout Utah. Liquor store brown bags will also feature the message: “Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix.”

WHY:  Alcohol use during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects in the United States. It increases the risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which includes fetal death, heart defects, facial changes, severe low birth weight, short stature, and brain damage that leads to learning and behavioral problems.

WHO: Speakers include:
      •  Conducting:  Sam Granato, Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
      •  Dr. David Sundwall, Director of the Utah Department of Health
      •  Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, father of adopted children with FASD
      •  Terra Daniel, mother of a 5-year-old adopted daughter with FASD
      •  Dr. Susan Lewin, University of Utah pediatrician who diagnoses FAS and FASD
      •  Zoe Robbins, Director of Nursing for Cottonwood Treatment Center

The next post has video from this press conference. 

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