Alcohol consumption by women is a relatively new phenomenon. A couple of decades ago, most women did not take alcohol regularly. The scientific community has been shocked recently to witness the birth of babies with severe growth retardation, a small brain, small and narrow eyes and an overall permanent development retardation.
It did not take long before the medical community was able to link this syndrome to the fact that mothers of these babies had consumed regular or good amount of alcohol during their pregnancy. Proving that alcohol can pass through the placenta was then a simple step.