FASD brochures handed out with marriage licenses in Wisconsin

The Journal Times published an article last week called A look at the law: Fetal alcohol syndrome brochure handed out with marriage license (Stephanie Jones, July 7, 2011).

The article comments on Wisconsin state law which requires county officials to  hand out a pamphlet on the effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy when people apply for a marriage license or to become a part of the state’s domestic partnership registry.

While I wonder about the effectiveness of a brochure handed out to individuals without a little more context or follow-up, it does seem to be an interesting opportunity to increase awareness about FASD. The law has been in place for 25 years; over the years, the brochures have been updated and include info about nutrition and not smoking or using drugs during pregnancy.