A non profit organization called Healthy Brains for Children is launching the new "Think Before You Drink" initiative by placing the world's first pregnancy test dispenser in a women's restroom.
For a night out on the town, taking a pregnancy test might just be the last thing on your mind.
Courtney Hennis says, "If they have enough time to think about it and say should I be doing this at least the flag is up."
Owner of Pub 500 Tom Frederick says, "The biggest negative is that it's kind of shocking... it's odd, it's weird why? They don't understand the next step of it."
The initiative called Think Before You Drink by a non profit organization called Healthy Brains for Children is hoping to create some positive buzz and extra awareness... and it seems to be working.
Madelia resident, Courtney Hennis says, "It's another life we need to be thinking about, and it creates that shock value."
Although it may seem strange to put a pregnancy test dispenser in the bathroom, their goal is to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure. The cost of the test is $3 and it takes around 10 minutes to get the results.
President and CEO of Healthy Brains for Children, Jody Crowe says, "If a women is sexually active and drinking alcohol, taking a pregnancy test every two weeks she would be able to find out she's pregnant prior to any alcohol doing any damage to the unborn child."
Organizers hope the popularity will take off. Crowe says,"This could be the start of a worldwide phenomenon... starting right here."
And city officials are on board. Mankato Mayor, Eric Anderson says, "And hopefully the message will spread so people who come in for a drink or two and are at all uncertain that they can make sure."
Helping Brains for Children say over 70 percent of 20-29-year-old women are having unexpected pregnancies, but one extra step could go a long way to protecting an unborn child.
