[sopooneo]

It could also be a matter of public health advocates being savvy about how their messages are received. If we say it's probably safe to drink d drinks per week, then some percentage p of the population will assume it's okay to drink x*d drinks per week and may harm their babies.

Also, simple rules are easy to state and simple to follow. The words "never" and "always" are very clear and leave no room for misinterpretation.

However, if any of my speculation is correct, and public health messages are tuned to account for their real world affect, than perhaps there is a risk that they will loose credibility.

[mhb]

Saying "never" without a reasonable basis is a great way to lose credibility.

[mpyne]

Sure, but "it would require a Ph.D. $3000 to estimate the amount you can safely drink over the course of a pregnancy, so the only accurate amount I can recommend that we know won't cause issues is 0" might actually be a reasonable basis.

[mhb]

An abstruse way of saying "I don't know what you should do" is likely not particularly credibility-enhancing either.

[mpyne]

Read it from the eyes of the patient. If they hear their doctor tell them that they have no clue, the patient is going to hear it as "I don't feel like dealing with you right now, go away", especially on a topic so extensively researched and debated. In this case they are the doctor, they should at least have a professional opinion, even if that opinion is "there's probably a safe level, but I have no way to figure it out".

[Karunamon]

Absent the proper research, it seems to me like avoiding any possible risk would be the wise course of action.

[mhb]

That's absurd. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micromort