CDC: 15% of US women report drinking alcohol during pregnancy

More than 1 in 7 pregnant women in the United States reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, according to a June 2026 analysis of 2021–2024 survey data, published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).¹

No amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is known to be safe, according to previous research published in Alcohol Research & Health, as use during pregnancy is associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, a group of lifelong behavioral, intellectual, and physical conditions, with higher frequency and intensity of use linked to greater risk of adverse outcomes.^1,2

Researchers analyzed pooled Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, covering 2021 through 2024. The analysis assessed self-reported current drinking, binge drinking, and heavy drinking among pregnant women aged 18 to 49 years. Among this population, 15.2% reported current drinking (one or more alcoholic drinks in the past 30 days), 4.9% reported binge drinking (4 or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past 30 days), and 2.2% reported heavy drinking (8 or more drinks within 1 week in the past 30 days). Among women who reported current drinking, 33.2% also reported binge drinking and 14.7% also reported heavy drinking. Prevalence did not differ significantly by survey year.¹

Which pregnant women face the highest risk of alcohol consumption?

Multivariable regression analysis identified several characteristics significantly associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Pregnant women who were not married had approximately twice the prevalence of current drinking (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.8), binge drinking (aPR = 2.2), and heavy drinking (aPR = 2.0) compared with those who were married.

Frequent mental distress showed an even stronger association. Pregnant women experiencing frequent mental distress had approximately twice the prevalence of current drinking (aPR = 1.8) and binge drinking (aPR = 1.8), with 3 times the prevalence of heavy drinking (aPR = 3.0), vs those who did not report frequent mental distress. These findings reinforce the importance of integrating behavioral health screening, treatment, and support into prenatal care.

How does prenatal alcohol use vary by region?

Significant geographic differences in current drinking during pregnancy were identified (P = 0.04). Pregnant women in HHS Region 1, which covers New England, had the highest prevalence of current drinking at 19.9%, compared with 10.4% in HHS Region 6 (South Central states), 11.8% in HHS Region 7 (Midwest states), and 12.4% in HHS Region 8 (Mountain states). The authors noted these regional patterns are generally consistent with broader population-level trends in alcohol use and underscore the importance of tailoring public health interventions to local context and cultural norms.

Limitations:

The authors identified 5 key limitations:

• Respondents who became pregnant within 30 days of the survey may have reported pre-pregnancy alcohol use, potentially overestimating prenatal drinking
• Self-reported alcohol consumption is subject to social desirability and recall biases, likely underestimating actual use; BRFSS questions also do not capture all consumption patterns
• Early or unrecognized pregnancies may have gone unreported, introducing misclassification of pregnancy status
• Cross-sectional design means temporality cannot be established for associations between health characteristics and alcohol use
• Trimester of pregnancy was not collected, preventing evaluation of alcohol use patterns across the course of pregnancy

Screening & awareness for alcohol use in pregnancy

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults, including pregnant women, for unhealthy alcohol use and providing brief counseling to address it.¹ The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists also recommends screening all pregnant women for anxiety and depression during prenatal care visits, with systems in place to connect patients to appropriate services.³

Community-level approaches, including point-of-sale information about pregnancy-related alcohol risks and broader population-level strategies such as alcohol sales taxes, may also contribute to reducing prenatal alcohol exposure and its associated adverse health outcomes, according to the MMWR.¹

References:

1. Thomas SA, Gosdin LK, Terplan M, Kim SY, Deputy NP. Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy Among Women Aged 18–49 Years — United States, 2021–2024. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Published June 11, 2026. Accessed July 16, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7522a2.htm
2. Bailey BA, Sokol RJ. Prenatal alcohol exposure and miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome. Alcohol Res Health. 2011;34(1):86-91. PMID: 23580045; PMCID: PMC3860553.
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines–Obstetrics. Screening and diagnosis of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum: ACOG clinical practice guideline no. 4. Obstet Gynecol. 2023;141:1232–61. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005200