THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE > 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides that the State shall protect the life of the mother and the unborn 
from conception. 
It is now established by studies and researches that drinking alcohol during pregnancy 
causes debilitating physical and mental conditions in the fetus. 
Among the ravages of alcohol on the unborn child; are: (a) head and face deformities, 
such as small skull formation, distorted and flattened face, drooping eyelids and a large interval 
between the lip and the nose; (b) major organ system malfunctions resulting in heart defects, ear 
infections, hearing loss, poor eyesight, and bad teeth; (c) central-nervous-system dysfunctions, 
causing mental retardation and hyperactivity that is not easily controlled by drugs; and (d) 
arrested growth, both before and after birth. 
The result on the infant is now known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Unlike drugs 
such as barbiturates or opiates, alcohol can attack virtually any of the body's cells. 
Yet FAS is entirely preventable. All a mother has to do is to stop imbibing alcoholic 
drinks during pregnancy. Beer, wine and hard liquor have the same effects, 
In some states in the United States, the policy is to require liquor bottles to carry the 
warning that alcohol intake during pregnancy is hazardous to the life and health of the unborn 
child. This bill seeks to do the same. Every year millions of affected Filipino children are born 
who could have been protected from the irreversible effects of FAS. 
The cost of the additional warning label, such as could be found in cigarette products is 
relatively small compared to the danger faced by many Filipino children. Approval of this bill 
could mean the start of a national campaign to foster this needed consciousness among our 
Filipino mothers. 
For these reasons, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly urged. 
MANUEL B. VI LAR, JR. 
t. 


'04 
JUN 30 P 8 :a% 
b@b 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
- 
605, 
I 
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT REQUIRING THAT ALL LIQUOR PRODUCTS CARRY A WARNING 
LABEL THAT ALCOHOL INTAKE DURING PREGNANCY IS HAZARDOUS TO 
THE LIFE AND HEALTH OF THE UNBORN CHILD 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. National Policy - It is hereby declared national policy to protect the life of the 
unborn child from conception from the harmful physical and me mental effects of drinking 
alcohol during pregnancy. 
SEC. 2. Policy Implementation. - All liquor products, regardless of alcohol content, shall 
carry a warning that alcohol intake during pregnancy is hazardous to the life and health of the 
unborn child. 
SEC. 3. Any liquor manufacturer and/or distributor who hall violate this Act shall suffer a 
fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) to Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,OOO.OO); for the second 
offense, a fine of more than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,OOO.OO) but not more than Twenty 
Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO); for the third offense, a fine of from Twenty Thousand Pesos. 
(P20,OOO.OO) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000,00) and suspension of the license to 
manufacturer and/or distribute the liquor product; and for the f fourth offense, revocation of the 
license to manufacture and/or distribute the liquor, plus fine of from Fifty to One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos. 
SEC. 4. The Department of Health (DOH) shall carry out the provisions of this Act by 
issuing the necessary rules and regulations and monitoring its implementation. 
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect three (3) months from its approval and 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general Circulation on. 
Approved,