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Chamber and committees

International FASD Day and the Need for Awareness

  • Submitted by: Rona Mackay, Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Friday, 05 September 2025
  • Motion reference: S6M-18639
  • Current status: Achieved cross-party support

That the Parliament notes that 9 September 2025 is International FASD Day; understands that FASD, or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, is a preventable neurodevelopmental condition with lifelong cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges, which occurs when prenatal alcohol exposure affects the developing brain and body; acknowledges reports that 4% of the population are affected, and each person with FASD is affected differently, often requiring lifelong support in education and post school settings to optimise their life experience; understands that, while the guideline in Scotland for pregnant women, or women trying to conceive is, “no alcohol, no risk”, 46% of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned so without better awareness, people may continue their pre-conception lifestyle until they have a positive pregnancy test; recognises the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and intervention; notes that unrecognised FASD can lead to people ending up in vulnerable situations, particularly given reports that many professionals do not fully understand the symptoms and effects of FASD; understands that populations of concern include people in contact with the criminal justice system, care experienced people, people who are homeless, and people with substance misuse issues; notes the view that training for health and social care professionals in identifying possible FASD is vital; considers that the use of Alcohol Brief Interventions for pregnant women is a useful tool in reducing the risk of FASD; notes the view that alcohol producers should be mandated to provide clear written pregnancy warnings on their products, and understands that there is an estimated economic benefit of £1.4 million for each case of FASD that is avoided.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Katy Clark, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Ben Macpherson, John Mason, Paul McLennan, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Kevin Stewart, David Torrance, Brian Whittle