The Consumption of Alcohol during Pregnancy - Essay Example

Are print ads convincible enough to prevent the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy? How does the message of this ad convey differently to pregnant women, youth and men. When one ties the knot and becomes responsible, they adhere to the need of having a family. The concept of having a family is very pure and divine. Men and women consent to involve in each other physically resulting in pregnancy. There are certainly a lot of things that a couple should know before starting a family and tying the knot forever of which partying time is one of those precautionary problems; drinking effects the health of a female and the child which she will carry in the future so every women who plans to start a family sooner or later should be aware of it in order to spend a healthy time during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a very divine thing which enables to any individual to start a family. The feeling of being a mother and carrying a child in the womb is very special. Apparently some women even consider it to be the best period or duration of their lives. When a woman experiences pregnancy, she tends to look after herself for the sake of her child. In this situation, she encounters various books in order to increase her parenting skills. When she goes through ads which discuss harmful effects of consuming alcohol, it strikes her mind. For some women, it becomes influential and they quit on such habits for the sake of her child, whereas some women do not bother at all and require more professional assistance than just print ads. These ads on their own are not that impactful at all but at times they acts as a catalyst to stop such acts. However, it has been scientifically studied in Danish study that if women drink about eight units per week of alcohol while she is pregnant, it would not have any obvious impact on children. The women who are going through the period of pregnancy should abstain from alcohol. It is said that the women who keeps on drinking alcohol or who drinks alcohol during herpregnancy stage can cause some serious diseases and defects such as brain damages and other birth defects to the child. For instance, the woman who does not quits on drinking and has a lot of intake of alcohol, mostly ends up giving birth to abnormal child. Addiction can be defined as the condition of being addicted to particular things."A 1996 review of the relation between maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy and the resulting in utero damage to the child." (Spohr and Hans, 38) It is something that an individual faces difficulties when it comes to overcoming these problems. Therefore, advertising alcohols and different alcohol brands whether on billboards or television etc. it is not a suitable option for everyone. Women who are addicted to drinking and who might be facing difficulties on quitting drinking alcohols might get more determined and encouraged of starting drinking again. However, that is not the case with every woman. "Additional legislation has been introduced but not passed that would require every print and broadcast ad to carry one of five rotated health warnings one of them is to AVOID ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY." (Hawkins, 570) if such laws are passed then many individuals will benefit. Women who plan to start a new family should be aware of the facts that how alcohol can damage her health and the child’s health which she has to carry in her womb for 9 months. Somehow, it is clear that advertising alcohols have some great effects on pregnant women, children, and young people. The print ads on billboards are just for mere selling products. Basically, just to make customers aware that they are in the market. Any individual glances at those print ads for mere 30 seconds to as long as 1 minute. Mostly, the print ads are definitely not as much effective because they do not in any way illustrate the hazards of drinking while pregnancy. It is merely a warning sign. Even after these print ads and so much promotion, they would not be able to get the attention of the desired market or target audience which is pregnant women. The reasons are that they already know that it is bad for their health and the child’s health, they are aware of the consequences if they do not stop drinking alcohol, and if someone is facing difficulties in quitting on drinking, they would be advised to join therapies. For some of the people, print ads are never convincing enough as emotional effects from videos always helps. Basically, there are two aims of the print ads. What the print ads do is they try to outline the precautionary measures that need to be taken while a woman is pregnant that is they should refrain and abstain themselves from drinking alcohol. While on the other hand, it outlines the consequences that would follow if any pregnant women do not follow those precautions carefully. They create such an atmosphere within those ads so that it stays light hearted while effectively making people aware of the hazards. They covered both adults and children this way. However, these print ads are also designed in a way that they develop awareness amongst people, specifically the target audience which is pregnant women. At times, the content and the theme behind the ad are so strong that it becomes very influential. Some of the print ads are created and designed in a way to motivate people or forbid them to do some harmful things. In some way, print ads are convincible enough to prevent the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy only if the appropriate print ads are good enough if they are designed in a way to effectively illustrate the point. But that is not necessary that because of those print ads people end up quitting their addictions. For instance, many people have not seen a warning sign for pregnant women on a bottle of alcohol. However, there is a warning sign on every cigarette packet about the hazards and consequences it may lead to if an individual does not quit on smoking. Therefore, there should be warning and caution signs on alcohol as well so that when the ads are being promoted, youth, pregnant women and men are aware of the hazards and consequences. Although, alcohol is not only dangerous for pregnant women, it is harmful and contagious for every human being living. In this ad, the designer has used emotions such as joys and love that symbolizes pregnancy and motherhood. A middle aged pregnant woman would be conscious about it. When a woman is pregnant, she shares her body with baby child so in the same manner whatever sheconsumes also affects the baby child’s health. Hence, in order to propagate this affection this ad was designed to spread awareness. Pregnant woman are a little bit more emotional so they will careful. However, the effect on men may vary. Men are mature enough to make bold and spot on decisions, they would not pay much attention towards these ads. On the contrary, this thing differs when it comes to a married man and an unmarried man. The ‘care’ factor in married man will take this ad seriously and he will act as a good husband whereas, the unmarried man will not pay much attention as discussed before because it really doesn’t matter to him. (Cosby, 59) Meanwhile, same is the case with the youth. Some youths will appreciate it, and some will not. Considering the ad, I wanted to say that before reading the lines, one would first take a brief look on the skin, from wherever it is visible. In short, such ads promote vulgarity and profanity for the youth as these will greatly affect the minds of the young people easily within no time. Moreover, it depends upon the perception of the society or neighborhood. Print ads and such have an important role to play because they pinpoint exactly what people should or should not do. But more needs to be done if men and women (pregnant or otherwise) are to be made aware of everything they need to know. These ads should continue but there is a lot more which needs to be done in order to spread awareness such as campaigns, workshops, medical assistance, rehabilitation etc. However, print ads alone, are not enough because they cannot show the emotions and sentiments involved in the message they want to convey for the targeted audience. Moreover, the slightest hint of the print ads regarding the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is somehow convincible enough to let the women or families know about the consequences of not quitting on drinking while the woman is pregnant. Works cited: Spohr, Hans-Ludwig, and Hans-ChristophSteinhausen. Alcohol, Pregnancy, and the Developing Child. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Hawkins, Del I. Consumer Behavior: Building Marketing Strategy. London: McGraw-Hill Education - Europe, 2004. Cosby, Bill. Fatherhood. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1986. Read More