The importance of a father consuming alcohol before conception is an area of active research internationally. FASD is the result of direct exposure to alcohol’s toxic or ‘teratogenic’ effects on the developing cells of the fetus. However there is some evidence that alcohol consumed before conception by the father or the mother may alter gene expression and set up a predisposing risk factor for some individuals. It is recommended that men intending to conceive a child do not drink for 60 days before conception as an approach which carries the least risk to the unborn baby. It will also help the mother if the father is supportive in abstaining from alcohol at this important time.