title: Consuming non-alcoholic beer and other beverages during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An increasing number of my patients are asking about the safety of consuming non-alcoholic beer and other alcohol-free versions of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as they believe that these drinks might be a "safer" alternative to regular alcoholic beverages. What are Motherisk's recommendations regarding these products?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Such drinks might contain higher ethanol levels than what is indicated on their labels. As there is no known safe level of alcohol intake in pregnancy, abstinence from non-alcoholic beverages would eliminate any risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Although it is likely that moderate intake of non-alcoholic beverages would pose no harm to breastfed infants, briefly delaying breastfeeding after consumption of such drinks would ensure that the infant is not exposed to alcohol.
authors.forename: John Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Adiong
authors.forename: Eunji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: Pina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bozzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001515:Beer / Q000009:adverse effects; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol