A good summary from CBC News: Light drinking no risk to babies: study
'The children of mothers who drank small amounts of alcohol during their pregnancy are not at an increased risk for behavioral or intellectual developmental problems, a new British study suggests.
In fact, the study, which appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that children born to light drinkers were 30 per cent less likely to have behavioural problems than children whose mothers did not drink during pregnancy.
As well, the study found that children of parents who were light drinkers achieved higher cognitive scores than those whose mothers had abstained from alcohol while pregnant.
The researchers used data from a study that tracked the health of more than 11,000 children in the U.K. born between September 2000 and January 2002. Mothers were asked questions about their children's behavioural and intellectual development at age three. They were subsequently assessed at the age of 5.
But the research found that the children of mothers who were heavy drinkers were more likely to be hyperactive, compared with children of mothers who did not drink.
The researchers interviewed the mothers about their drinking patterns during their pregnancy, along with other social and economic factors.
Mothers who consumed one or two drinks a week were considered light drinkers. Heavy drinkers were those who consumed seven or more drinks a week or six at one sitting'
Daily Fail: 'Glass of wine in pregnancy 'does not harm your baby'
BBC: 'Light drinking no risk to baby'
However...despite this study, the official advice remains the same, and in an update to the story, the Press association report
'Press Association: 'Pregnant women warned over alcohol'
'Women were advised that official guidance to avoid alcohol in pregnancy remained in place after experts said drinking one or two units a week does not harm a child's development.
Mothers-to-be can safely drink a 175ml glass of wine, a 50ml glass of spirits or just under a pint of beer each week without affecting intellectual or behavioural development, according to a new study.
But children born to mothers who drink heavily or binge drink (seven or more units a week or six at one sitting) are at higher risk of behavioural and emotional problems.
The finding adds to previous research which found light drinking has no negative effect on toddler development, and the issue of how much is safe to drink during pregnancy has caused controversy in recent years.
In 2007, the Department of Health published guidance saying pregnant women should avoid drinking alcohol altogether, as should those trying to conceive. This replaced previous guidance which said it was safe for pregnant women to drink one to two units of alcohol per week.
The Government said its update was not based on new research, but was to provide consistent advice to all women.
Following the latest study, in which experts examined the risk of drinking on children up to the age of five, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "After assessing the available evidence, we cannot say with confidence that drinking during pregnancy is safe and will not harm your baby.
"Therefore, as a precautionary measure, our advice to pregnant women and women trying to conceive is to avoid alcohol."
Janet Fyle, professional policy advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said she was concerned women may take the findings as a message that it is "ok" to drink alcohol.
"There is no firm evidence that small amounts of cumulative alcohol consumption does not have an effect on the developing foetus," she said. "Because of this our advice to women remains the same; if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you are pregnant, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol."'