I was listening to the radio in the car yesterday when a news reporter started talking about criminalising mother’s who drink while they are pregnant. As present, the court of appeal is deciding whether a council in the North West of England can hold the mother of a 7 year old girl responsible for her Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).

FASD is an umbrella term for all disorders resulting from a foetus being exposed to alcohol. It can lead to memory and attention span issues, affect speech, language and behaviour. It can affect a child’s immune system as well as damage their vital organs.

When I heard this, my only thought was “What mother would drink copious amounts of alcohol if she knew what it would do to her child?” And the only answer that came to mind was a) A mother who didn’t know better b) A mother who…