Thursday, September 18, 2014
Huron County Health Unit
Free drinks during “Mocktails on Me”
Pregnant women in Huron County can enjoy free non-alcoholic drinks during the Huron County Health Unit’s new “Mocktails on Me” campaign.
Beginning on September 27, 12 licensed establishments in Huron County will support pregnant women to have alcohol-free pregnancies by offering free non-alcoholic beverages.
The Mocktails on Me campaign, along with the Rethink Your Drinking campaign, remind pregnant women that “Zero Matters.” Public Health Promoter Annie Lukacsovics says there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy, and no safe amount or type of alcohol to drink.
Lukacsovics says the Huron County Health Unit is grateful for the support of the following “Mocktails on Me” participants:
Goderich - West Street Willy’s Eatery, Paddy O’Neils Restaurant Pub, Goderich Harbour Restaurant, The Bistro, China Wok Buffet, and Samuels Hotel
Exeter - Canton House Buffet Restaurant
Wingham - The Fireside Café and Maitland Restaurant
Bayfield - The Little Inn of Bayfield and The Docks Restaurant and Bar
Blyth - Part II Bistro
“We are so pleased that Huron County establishments want to make it easy for women to have alcohol-free pregnancies. They are helping make sure that babies have the best possible chance to be healthy,” says Lukacsovics.
Each establishment has set up its own guidelines on how free drinks will be offered. The campaign will end on November 30th.
The message that it is unsafe to drink alcohol while pregnant is not a new one. However, prenatal exposure to alcohol remains a leading cause of preventable birth defects and developmental delay in Canadian children.
Lukacsovics says it’s important for women to know that it’s best to stop drinking before you get pregnant, and it’s also never too late to stop.
Exposure to alcohol in the first three to eight weeks of pregnancy, before a woman may even know that she is pregnant, can result in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD is a broad range of birth defects and disabilities which may include:
- heart, kidney, and liver damage
- bones, limbs and fingers that are not formed properly
- vision and hearing difficulties
- slow growth
- learning disabilities
Many pregnancies are not planned, meaning that some women may have drunk alcohol before they knew they were pregnant. Anyone with concerns or questions can make a confidential phone call to Motherisk at 1-877-327-4636 or visit www.motherisk.org.
The Pregnancy and Parenting Program at Choices for Change also provides help for pregnant women with substance misuse concerns. Visit www.choicesforchange.ca/ or call 1-877-218-0077 for more information.
Rethink Your Drinking is a campaign to help change the way we think about and use alcohol. To learn more, visit www.rethinkyourdrinking.ca.
Media Contact:
Rita Marshall
Communications Coordinator
Huron County Health Unit
519-482-3416 or toll-free 1-877-837-6143 ext 2023
rmarshall@huroncounty.ca
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