How Many Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol? New CDC Data Gives an Answer

An eight month pregnant woman holds a glass of wine. (Photo: Press Association via AP Images)

More than one in seven pregnant women in the United States reported consuming alcohol in the previous month, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with researchers also finding a strong link between prenatal alcohol use and mental distress.

The analysis, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), found that 15.2% of pregnant women ages 18 to 49 reported drinking at least one alcoholic beverage in the previous 30 days between 2021 and 2024. That’s up from 13.5% reported during 2018-2020.

Among pregnant women surveyed, 4.9% reported binge drinking — defined as consuming four or more drinks on one occasion during the past month — while 2.2% reported heavy drinking, defined as eight or more drinks within one week during the same period.

The CDC notes that no amount of alcohol has been proven safe during pregnancy. Alcohol use while pregnant has been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, a group of lifelong physical, behavioral and intellectual disabilities.

Researchers analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationwide health survey covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Among women who reported drinking during pregnancy, roughly one-third (33.2%) also reported binge drinking, while nearly 15% reported heavy drinking.

One of the report’s strongest findings involved mental health. Pregnant women experiencing frequent mental distress were nearly twice as likely to report current alcohol use and binge drinking, and three times more likely to report heavy drinking than those who did not report frequent distress.

Marital status was also associated with alcohol consumption. Compared with married women, those who were unmarried were about twice as likely to report current drinking, binge drinking and heavy drinking during pregnancy.

The report also identified regional differences across the country. New England recorded the highest prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy at 19.9%, while rates were significantly lower in parts of the South Central, Midwest and Mountain regions.

Researchers acknowledged several limitations, including the possibility that some respondents became pregnant shortly before taking the survey and may have reported alcohol consumed before realizing they were pregnant. Because the data are self-reported, actual alcohol use may also be higher due to underreporting.

The findings reinforce current recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which advises healthcare providers to screen adults, including pregnant women, for unhealthy alcohol use and provide counseling when appropriate.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also recommends routine screening for anxiety and depression during pregnancy, with appropriate referral systems in place for treatment and support.

The CDC said combining individual screening with broader public health measures, including education campaigns and policies aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption, could help lower prenatal alcohol exposure and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.