CIGARETTE, ALCOHOL, AND COFFEE CONSUMPTION AND PREMATURITY

We analyzed data from a survey of occupational and other factors in pr egnancy to assess the effects of cigarette, alcohol, and coffee consum ption on pregnancy outcome. The risk of low birth weight for gestation al age was found to increase substantially with smoking. Occasional co nsumers of alcohol had a slightly reduced risk relative to total absta iners. In more frequent drinkers, there was a small increase in risk. Risk increased slightly with coffee consumption.