Alcohol ingestion during pregnancy is known to cause fetal malformation and growth retardation. We investigated the effect of alcohol on mineral content and fetal development in rats fed 24% (v/v) alcohol eight weeks prior to and during pregnancy. Rats ingesting alcohol produced fewer fetuses (6.3 +/−0.3 vs 9.6 +/−0.3 in control) with lower fetal weight (3.48 +/−0.09 vs 4.12 +/−0.08 gm in control) and heavier placentas (0.66 +/−0.05 vs 0.50 +/−0.01 gm in control). The fetuses of alcoholic rats contained lower zinc (423.8 +/−4.5 vs 459.9 +/−5.4 microEq/100 gm dry weight in control) and magnesium (12.4 +/−0.1 vs 12.7 +/−0.1 mEq/100 gm dry weight in control) in the total carcass.