nutrition (32). Up until the 1970s and the discovery of fetal alcohol syndrome, beliefs regarding drinking during pregnancy ranged from posing little or no risk (33) to benefiting mothers (34, 35). Likewise, the benefits of alcohol for lactating women and children went largely unchallenged by science until the 1990s. The folklore of many cultures suggests that drinking during lactation facilitates milk let-down, rectifies milk insufficiency, and soothes and nourishes breastfed babies (36, 37). A popular book for new mothers, first published in 1963, claimed that “... alcohol has special virtues for the nursing mother ... this is the one time in life when the therapeutic qualities of alcohol are a blessing!” (38). These beliefs persist even today despite the scientific evidence that refutes this lore (39, 40). Such historical and cultural perspectives highlight the evolving role of alcohol in society, reflecting its dual nature as both a valued resource and potential risk to health.
