Raising awareness about risks to pregnant women

Alcohol consumption carries major risks for unborn infants at every stage in pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the number 1 non‑genetic cause of mental disability in children. For these reasons, the Group endeavours to keep women informed and aware of the avoidable risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Recommending zero alcohol

In line with doctors and public health authorities, Pernod Ricard advises pregnant women to abstain from any alcohol consumption throughout the entire duration of their pregnancy. No matter the occasion, whether daily or rare, festive or not, the Group recommends complete abstinence.

Since 2005, the “pregnant woman” pictogram must appear on all labels for alcoholic beverages in France, the first nation in the world to institute this practice. Pernod Ricard goes even further by affixing this pictogram to all products sold in the 27 countries of the European Union.


Pernod Ricard Deutschland, a pioneering subsidiaryPernod Ricard Deutschland, a pioneering subsidiary
Pernod Ricard Deutschland’s adoption of the pictogram warning against consuming alcohol during pregnancy on its products’ packaging won it the recognition of German public authorities. Its prevention initiatives do not, however, end there…
Learn more about the initiatives of Pernod Ricard Deutschland, a pioneering subsidiary

Communicating clear information about risks

Communicating information about risks related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a priority for Pernod Ricard. Through the efforts of the French Institut de recherches scientifiques sur les boissons (IREB) and the Entreprise et Prévention association, the Group supports the initiatives implemented by French health authorities and local governing bodies.
The Group has lent its support since 2008 to the “zero alcohol during pregnancy” operation for future parents and doctors, led by Entreprise et Prévention.
Several French-language informational documents are distributed to this end, for example:
  • a general public pamphlet entitled «Puis-je boire un verre à sa santé ? » («Can I have a drink to my baby’s health?») (PDF, 255 Kb), which deals with future parents’ common questions,
  • a booklet entitled « Alcool et grossesse, si on en parlait ? » (« Let’s talk alcohol and pregnancy ») (PDF, 4,14 Mb), which informs doctors about foetal alcohol syndrome and how to discuss it during consultations,
  • a poster (PDF, 1,05 Mb), which helps to communicate the message in waiting rooms and elicit patients’ questions.

More information on responsible consumption from Pernod Ricard





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