VILNIUS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A legal ban on prohibiting pregnant women from drinking alcohol might be discussed in Lithuania due to recent incidents in the Baltic country related to drunk pregnant women, local media reported on Wednesday.
Viktoras Pranckietis, speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, was quoted as saying in an interview with local broadcaster Ziniu Radijas that a legislative framework might be adopted in order to protect the unborn babies from their alcohol-abusing mothers.
"Exactly this issue (the ban on drinking alcohol during pregnancy) might be the subject of the law," Pranckietis told Ziniu Radijas.
Pranckietis added the discussion began "earlier than one week before" and "this should be reflected in the legislative framework."
"I believe a new discussion is on the way, we have to speak about how to protect the unborn baby.It is a very sensitive subject," Pranckietis was quoted as saying by Ziniu Radijas.
Less than two weeks ago, Lithuania was shocked by an incident in a hospital of its port city Klaipeda where a drunk woman gave a birth to a baby girl who has been later diagnosed with more than 4 promilles blood alcohol level.
According to medical workers, the survival of the newborn was an exception as the baby had severe intoxication condition and could be at risk of irreversible grave health damages in the future.
Another drunk pregnant woman was brought to the same Klaipeda's hospital a week ago.
In recent years, Lithuania's authorities have been considering and adopting measures aimed at restricting access of alcohol, due to concerns over alcohol abuse in the Baltic country.
Raising the minimum drinking age to 20, restricting alcohol sale hours and alcohol advertising ban are among the amendments to the Alcohol Control Law adopted in recent years.
According to the World Health Organization, Lithuania is among the countries with the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in Europe.
