WHO Advises Women Of 'Childbearing Age' To Cut Off Alcohol, Slammed As 'Sexist'

WHO sexist advice: After WHO's advice to women of childbearing age asked women of the age group 18-50 to cut off alcohol on June 16, women from around the world slammed the organisation as "sexist" and the advice as "absurd".

Considering the fact that it is not every woman's destiny to give birth and many families have different plans, the world Health Organisation's global advice to countries has been remarked as "sexist and paternalistic".

According to a draft global alcohol action plan, 2022-2030, made on June 17, the organisation urged countries to pay "appropriate attention to prevention" of consumption of alcoholic beverages in certain groups, including children, teenagers and women of childbearing age.

Addressing the controversial advice, Chief executive of the Portman Group Matt Lambert, who is the social responsibility and regulatory body for alcohol in the UK, said that "WHO has gone beyond their remit".

"As well as being sexist and paternalistic, and potentially restricting the freedoms of most women," he added, "it goes well beyond their remit and is not rooted in science."

WHO's Advice To Women Sparks Controversy

The plan which made people accuse WHO of scaremongering people provides, "Appropriate attention should be given to the prevention of the initiation of drinking among children and adolescents, prevention of drinking among pregnant women and women of childbearing age."

What Do People Say About The Plan?

While people brought into notice the fact that while women's alcohol-related risks are present, undeniably, these risks shouldn't be associated with those of children and pregnant people.

Head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs Christopher Snowdon ">said that is an "idiocy" of the organisation and added that this statement was made after they were "not content with repeatedly dropping the ball on Covid-19 and dishing out awards to politicians for banning vaping," that they are now abstaining world's women should abstain from alcohol.

A lot of scientific studies claim that women should refrain from drinking while they are pregnant as alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord, leading to the possibility of miscarriages. However, Snowdon has claimed the idea of preventing women of childbearing age, who are not even pregnant at the time, from drinking as "unscientific and absurd" and that it is none of WHO's business.

Chief executive of Alcohol Change UK Dr Richard Piper ">stated that although drinking alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy, even before many people realise it, can be very damaging for a foetus, it is also vital to balance this against each adult's right to make informed decisions about what they do with their bodies, no matter age or sex.