Oh, Pub 500 in Mankato, Minnesota. You are a special, special place. But I won’t judge you, because I don’t know you all like that. All I know is, you have apparently found good reason to install a very special vending machine in your ladies room. The kind of vending machine that I’ve sometimes wished I had in my own home… the kind that will make it really easy for women out on the town to make an informed decision about what precisely they should be ordering at the bar that night: a shot of Jose Cuervo, or a small glass of seltzer water, please. Learn more about the pregnancy test gone mobile in today’s That-Ish-Cray Of The Day.
So a really cool place called Healthy Brains For Children is determined to reduce occurrences of fetal alcohol syndrome in kids, which is a great cause. And they’re willing to do just about anything for their cause, which is admirable. This includes the creation of their brand spankin’ new pregnancy test dispensers, the first of which was recently installed in… Minnesota? Ok, Minnesota!
Here’s the announcement from the organization’s site:
Through our Think Before You Drink Initiative we are offering Pregnancy Test Dispensers for installation in public restrooms. The first dispenser was installed in Pub 500 in Mankato, MN on July 19, 2012. These dispensers give the public a chance to solve a problem (FASD) that’s actually 100 percent preventable. The dispensers do not require cash, just swipe a credit card and remove a pregnancy test.
Healthy Brains for Children seeks to locate pregnancy test dispensers in women’s restrooms in bars, gas stations, malls, fitness centers, etc. to target those at high risk for unexpecting pregnancies. The intent of the Pub 500 event was to plant an entrepreneurial seed and find partners in this initiative to put pregnancy tests worldwide in locations where women can test before drinking alcohol rather than waiting until a month or two into the pregnancy.
Over 30% of married women and over 70% of 20-29 year old women are having unexpected pregnancies. Unexpected pregnancies are at a high risk for prenatal exposure to alcohol that can cause lifelong damage to the fetus. This early development damage can have catastrophic consequences, such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, behaviors now related to Autism Spectrum Disorder, lifelong learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, depression, and is linked to over 60 illnesses. There is no safe amount of alcohol. Research shows even small amounts of
alcohol during the pregnancy has a detrimental impact on reading and math abilities when the child is school aged. The first trimester of a pregnancy is particularly susceptible to damage from alcohol. Binge drinking is very damaging to the developing fetus. Binge drinking and unexpected pregnancies go hand in hand.
Read more here.
How ’bout that? I’ll admit, I was LMAO when I read this on Celebuzz. But… it’s for a good cause! What are you gonna say? I want more healthy babies in the world so maybe this isn’t such a crazy idea. Still, it’s gonna be strange to see these popping up all over town. And how ’bout that last bit: Binge drinking and unexpected pregnancies go hand in hand… Uh-oh…
What do you guys think? Good idea/Bad idea? And how soon before they start installing them in high school bathrooms, or in libraries or movie theaters or… everywhere???
#FeministMovementProblems
What do you mean by “#FeministMovementProblems”?
a, I’m always wondering if certain ideas (like this one) are a result of the feminist movement or a deviation from the feminist movement. I asked the same question about those Jenny Saville paintings I posted, and that 8-year old girl’s writing assignment. Is this empowering for women (and all people) or not? That question is my eternal FeministMovementProblem, and that’s what I was playing on with the hashtag, lol.
I live in this town! Considering all the colleges here, might be a good idea lol
Ashley, lol! Thanks for commenting. I think they’re def targeting a specific crowd, seeing as how it’s in a bar.
I think it’s an awesome idea! I also live in Mankato and I applaud Pub 500 for taking the initiative. I am all for healthy babies and I am excited for the great things that Healthy Brains for Healthy Children are doing for children!
Seems like a smart idea to me.
I think it’s great. If it saves people even 1 night of drinking while pregnant that is great!
Not a bad idea. You should get a free condom with it too. That way if you aren’t pregnant you can make sure it stays that way.
Only $3 a test?!? Heck, if I lived in the area I would totally go there anytime I needed a test. Those things are expensive!
The dollar store!
I think it is a good idea. Part of it also being, I can see how some people would feel self conscience buying them at a checkout so it is a safe place