Whether or not it's OK to drink with a baby on the way has been a divisive issue for years. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly states that prenatal exposure to alcohol can damage the developing fetus, other research (like a 2012 study from Denmark) has found moderate drinking during pregnancy to be OK for expectant moms and kids. Now, New York City is taking a stance on the issue, releasing new guidelines that say NYC bars can no longer refuse to serve alcohol to pregnant women.

The guidelines, which came out Friday, were created to stop discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace and out in public. In the document, the Commission says they wanted to eliminate policies that "single out pregnant individuals. Unlawful policies include those that categorically exclude pregnant workers or workers who are capable of becoming pregnant from specific job categories or positions, deny entrance to pregnant individuals to certain public accommodations, or refuse to serve certain food or drinks to pregnant individuals or individuals perceived to be pregnant."

"Judgments and stereotypes about how pregnant individuals should behave, their physical capabilities, and what is or is not healthy for a fetus are pervasive in our society and cannot be used as pretext for unlawful discriminatory decisions," the guidelines note.

In addition to being refusing pregnant patrons alcohol, the Commission acknowledged that some restaurant policies may prohibit staff from serving them raw fish. Or a bouncer might deny "a pregnant individual entrance to a bar based on the belief that pregnant individuals should not be going to bars and/or drinking alcohol."

Bars are still required to post warning that drinking during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, according to the Associated Press.

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