A newly published report from the CDC reveals a concerning trend: more pregnant women in the U.S. are drinking alcohol, a shift that has persisted since the pandemic. The study, first reported by STAT, shows that 15.2% of pregnant women reported drinking from 2021 to 2024, up from 13.5% in the 2018 to 2020 period. This rise echoes broader pandemic-era drinking patterns but appears to be lingering, raising alarms about potential developmental risks for children.
Among those surveyed from 2021 to 2024, 4.9% of pregnant women reported binge drinking — defined as four or more drinks on a single occasion — within the past 30 days. Additionally, 2.2% engaged in heavy drinking, meaning eight or more drinks per week. Notably, among the pregnant women who reported any alcohol consumption, a third also reported binge drinking, while almost 15% said they engaged in heavy drinking.
The data underscores a persistent public health challenge, as alcohol use during pregnancy is linked to serious developmental problems, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The CDC's findings suggest that post-pandemic habits have not receded, leaving health experts concerned about the long-term implications for maternal and child health.
The trend signals a need for targeted interventions and public health messaging, particularly as pandemic-era behaviors normalize. Experts will be watching for whether these numbers continue to climb or stabilize, and what factors — from stress to social access — are driving the increase.
This report adds to a growing body of evidence that the pandemic has had lasting effects on health behaviors in the U.S., with alcohol use emerging as a key area of concern across multiple demographics.