Is the advice given to pregnant women to avoid alcohol actually sexist?

Okay, so the world is divided into two camps when it comes to alcohol consumption in pregnant women? While some medical experts believe that women should just stay away from alcohol the second they realize that they are pregnant, some state that 'advising women not to drink when pregnant is sexist and causes needless anxiety'.
 
It's a little hard to take sides, since women have always been warned about the health hazards of alcohol in light of pregnancy. Research even claim that it can stunt the baby's growth, lead to learning difficulties, and premature birth.
 
However, according to a report published in the Telegraph, pregnancy charities and researchers have called for a change to the 'alarmist' official government guidelines, which warn expectant mothers to avoid alcohol completely. They say the policy has no basis in evidence and ends up stigmatising women and excluding them from society.
 
"Studies have shown that consistent heavy drinking during pregnancy can result in foetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause physical developmental and learning difficulties. However, there is not robust evidence that light to moderate drinking, or even one-off episodes of binge drinking, causes any long-term damage," states the report.

Also read: Ladies, more reasons to stay sober! Study claims women don't need alcohol to enjoy parties, unlike men
 
Furthermore, experts at the University of Kent and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) are now rooting for a change in the tone advising pregnant to refrain from alcohol consumption. They believe that it is scaring women into aborting their pregnancies. And it's a result of the exaggerated fear these women are influenced with.

 
"Public discourse has become very hostile and there is now an assumption that a pregnant woman holding a glass of wine is doing something absolutely wrong. Women are being accosted, spoken to and started at in public. People assume that just because you have had one drink you've had a bottle of vodka for breakfast," The Guardian quoted Dr Ellie Lee, Director of the Centre of Parenting Culture Studies, University of Kent, as saying.
 
She also went onto state that it's impossible to establish the safe level of exposure to alcohol during pregnancy.
 
So, whether it's okay to consume small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy or not is something we will leave on experts to decide. Though, the discourse has for sure ignited a debate that does make sense.

Also read: Believe it or not, but you can get pregnant while you are pregnant