BOISE - The House Health and Welfare Committee approved a bill Thursday that would encourage businesses, restaurants and stores that sell alcohol to display signs warning customers that drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause fetal-alcohol syndrome in babies.

The bill allows any place that sells wine, beer or liquor, including liquor stores, to display two signs notifying people of the warning signs for fetal-alcohol syndrome. The disease results in permanent birth de-fects, in-cluding damage to the central nervous system, and is one of the leading causes of mental retardation.

House Health and Welfare Committee Chairwoman Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, a sponsor of the bill, said that when she taught kindergarten she came across affected children and that passing the bill would send a positive message.

"It is a simple thing to do with a magnificent result," said Block.

In 2007, there were 27,000 babies born in Idaho and one of every seven kids were born with fetal-alcohol syndrome, said Rep. Liz Chavez, D-Lewiston, whose adopted son has the disease.

"Thirty-seven years after our John was born, women engage continuously in risky behavior, including drinking alcohol while pregnant," said Chavez.

A bill that made displaying the signs mandatory didn't pass the Legislature last year. Lawmakers who asked Thursday whether there was hard evidence that alcohol contributes directly to fetal-alcohol syndrome were told that it's a difficult disease to diagnose.

Terry Curley, a retired hospital executive now working for the nonprofit March of Dimes, said that he became active in the cause after his granddaughter was diagnosed with the syndrome.

"That event changed our lives and moved me rapidly out of retirement," he said.

The signs will be printed by the Department of Health and Welfare, costing about $10,000. The department is also encouraged to apply for grants to cover rewards of participating businesses.