Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy on the Rise

The number of pregnant mothers who drink alcohol is on the rise, exposing more infants to fetal alcohol syndrome, one of the leading causes of intellectual disabilities and birth defects.

A recent study by the National Medical Center reveals that 16 percent of Korean women drank alcohol during their pregnancy, a similar level as in the U.S.

Drinking by women in general is also increasing. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that some 80 percent of women consumed alcohol at least once a year in 2007, more than double the 32 percent recorded in 1989. The number of women who drank regularly hit 5 percent in 2001, compared to 1 percent in 1991.

To find ways to tackle the problem, the CDCP is holding workshops with U.S. experts on the matter in Seoul on Thursday.