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The benefits of alcohol during pregnancy have been proven
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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In Denmark, experts conducted a study that showed that alcoholic drinks in moderate doses can not only be safe for pregnant women, but also contribute to the development of the embryo, helping the child to adapt to life situations more easily in the future.
As it turned out, children born to mothers who drank alcohol in small quantities were able to adapt to the current situation much easier. Such conclusions were made by specialists from the University of Copenhagen after multiple long-term studies. In their experiment, which lasted for seven years (from 1996 to 2002), the specialists surveyed about one hundred thousand pregnant women, during which they found out each of their attitudes toward alcohol. Seven years later, the specialists surveyed the already grown-up children of the women who participated in the survey. As it turned out, the children of mothers who drank a couple of glasses of wine a week while pregnant had a more mature appearance, and made new acquaintances more easily, unlike children whose mothers did not drink at all during their entire pregnancy. Kit Broholm, one of the specialists who conducted the study, commented on the project, noting that it is necessary to understand when alcohol is harmful to the body, and when it contributes to the proper development of the body. It is necessary to distinguish between the harm of alcohol for the embryo and its positive effects (in moderate quantities), for example, for the prevention of heart failure.
According to the research, the successful development of children is not only due to alcohol, but also to a number of other factors. Women who occasionally drank during pregnancy had better health, played sports, did not smoke, spent little time in front of the TV and were not overweight before giving birth. In essence, the results of the study reflected all the factors that could affect the future development of the child, including alcohol. This study, according to experts, is not a statement that alcohol is good for pregnant women, on the contrary, caution is recommended, especially in this situation.
Earlier studies by specialists from the United States showed that drinking alcohol in small doses prolongs life. Scientists came to such conclusions after long-term observation of the health of more than a thousand people, whose age at the beginning of the experiment was 55 to 65 years. Among the people were heavy drinkers, and those who drank occasionally, and those who did not drink alcohol at all. During the experiment (20 years), 60% of excessive drinkers and 69% of people leading a sober lifestyle died. Among people who drank moderately, the mortality rate was at the level of 41%.
Experts suggest that moderate amounts of alcohol can prolong life. By moderate amounts, experts mean two servings of alcohol per day (one serving is approximately 300 ml of beer or one shot of a strong drink). Abuse of alcoholic beverages leads to a 42% increase in mortality, and complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages leads to a 49% increase in mortality.