Several studies investigating cognitive outcomes following prenatal exposure to binge pattern of drinking have not found adverse effects on global intellectual functioning such as IQ scores [11–14, 18, 30]. However, specific associations have been found with lower verbal and non-verbal IQ, particularly if binge episodes are frequent [7, 9, 10]. Relatively few studies have focused on school-based learning or academic outcomes. The Seattle longitudinal study found that binge-pattern drinking (≥60 g alcohol per occasion) was associated with childhood learning problems that persisted over time [3, 4]. Specific problems with maths, reading and verbal memory have also been described [3, 6]. After adjustment for confounders, our findings have shown an adverse impact of occasional drinking episodes involving ≥4 drinks in a single day (involving ≥32 g of alcohol) on children’s academic attainment at age 11. These findings are consistent with animal studies which demonstrate adverse effects on learning, hyperactivity/inattention, and executive function through exposure to high peak alcohol levels [31, 33].
