Bars In Alaska Will Soon Offer Free Pregnancy Tests Inside Women's Bathrooms

Thanks to a new, state-funded initiative led by the University of Alaska, women being aware of their bodies and being attune to their health has never been so easy.

The university has partnered with 20 bars and restaurants across the state to introduce free pregnancy tests to women's restrooms, starting in December.

The efforts aim to decrease the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome. With many women unaware that they're pregnant in the early stages, they continue to drink and engage in other behavior that later proves harmful to their babies.

Alaska has the highest rate of fetal alcohol syndrome of any state in the country, so this two-year, $400,000-project aims to lessen those numbers, while reducing the stigma Alaskan women associate with buying pregnancy tests in public places.

Jody Allen Crowe, who is helping implement this program in Alaska, said the endeavor is targeting the state's unexpected pregnancies.

This is not a strategy for the chronic alcoholic who is drinking regardless of whatever message they see. This is really focused on the 50 percent of unexpected pregnancies, to find out they are pregnant as early as possible.

Hopefully the free pregnancy tests will encourage more women not to wait and see if they're pregnant, but to act immediately and responsibly if that's the case.

H/T: Time, Photo Credit: Getty Images