The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new animated video titled Waiting room: Let’s talk about what everyone should know about alcohol guidelines and pregnancy. This short educational video aims to raise awareness about the health risks associated with alcohol use, particularly for women and during pregnancy. It explains that women are generally more affected by alcohol than men and emphasizes the importance of understanding what constitutes a standard drink, as even moderate consumption can carry health risks such as cancer and heart disease.

A central focus of the video is the risk of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. It clearly states that there is no known safe amount, no safe time, and no safe type of alcohol to consume while pregnant. Alcohol use during pregnancy is linked to serious outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The video highlights that FASD can cause lifelong intellectual, behavioral, and physical disabilities, and may affect as many as 1 to 5% of US schoolchildren. Despite common misconceptions, no form of alcohol, including wine or beer, is safer than others.

The CDC encourages all healthcare providers to routinely discuss alcohol use with their patients, regardless of pregnancy status, to promote informed and healthy decisions. The video concludes with a call to action: support healthy pregnancies by encouraging women to talk to healthcare professionals about alcohol use and, if necessary, seek help from addiction services. T

he full video and more information can be found at cdc.gov/FASD.