Alcohol contributes substantially to the global burden of disease. Alcohol consumption is not only associated with an individual’s health in general, but also with all types of injuries. More than half of all homicides and traffic-related deaths in South Africa are associated with alcohol. This Chapter elaborates on one of the hidden effects of alcohol, i.e. the adverse effects (harm/injury) of maternal drinking on the unborn child that may result in a spectrum of disorders referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD is claimed to be the most frequent cause of preventable mental handicap in the world and is devastating in its lifelong effects on the affected person. South Africa, with the highest measured FASD prevalence rate in the world in some high risk communities, has no integrated national strategy or policy to deal with the phenomenon at present, and no ongoing surveillance is taking place in the country. Important achievements in the field of identifying, assessing prevalence and prevention of FASD have been reached through the work and involvement of the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research, constituted in 1997 as a non-profit organisation. Since then, important projects by a range of national and international organisations and universities are being conducted to explore strategies to reduce the harmful alcohol use by pregnant women and women in general