Older pregnant women more likely to drink

The 15-year year research project published on Friday also shows pregnant women with lower educational attainment are more inclined to drink alcohol at higher-risk levels.

Advocates have seized on the alarming findings to demand the Australian government introduce mandatory pregnancy warning labels on alcohol products.

Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive Michael Thorn said the existing voluntary system for alcohol labelling had been a dismal policy failure.

Mr Thorn said seven years on, more than half of alcohol products did not carry pregnancy warnings.

"It is astounding that in Australia alcohol companies are still not legally required to include pregnancy warning labels on their products," he said on Friday.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can risk miscarriages, stillbirths, low birth weights and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Mr Thorn said it was absurd everyday items including batteries, dish washing tablets and potting mixes all carried bold, visible warnings about the potential for harm but alcohol did not.

He is calling on Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, who chairs the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation, to champion the change when the group next meets.

"Enough is enough - this upcoming meeting of food ministers must be a line in the sand," Mr Thorn said.

Researchers at La Trobe University have mapped trends in alcohol consumption during pregnancy from 2001 to 2016.

The report found alcohol consumption during pregnancy decreased during the 15-year period but there were some troubling trends.

"Our research concluded that health promotion campaigns should focus on older, more highly educated women who appear less likely to refrain entirely from drinking during pregnancy," report co-author Sarah Callinan said.

"And on those with lower education levels who appear to be more likely to drink at higher-risk levels during pregnancy."

Australian Associated Press