Holby criticised for binge drinking scene

Mark SweneyThursday October 4, 2007MediaGuardian.co.uk

Holby City: criticised for a scene in which two characters down shots of tequila.
Drinks' industry body the Portman Group has made official complaints to media regulator Ofcom and the BBC over an "irresponsible" scene in Holby City promoting binge drinking.
The Portman Group, the eight-strong industry body that has members including Diageo, Carlesberg and Stella Artois-parent Inbev, made the complaints about a scene featuring two medics who "down" five shots of tequila in a bar after a stressful day at work.
The industry body is accusing the programme of showing alcohol misuse and a "highly irresponsible portrayal of excessive and rapid drinking".
The scene also implied that their boozing would lead to a sexual encounter, argued the Portman Group.
"We appreciate that programme makers want to mirror some aspects of real life but they should avoid the encouragement of harmful, rapid and excessive drinking," said David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group.
"We would not advocate censorship, nor deny that storylines of alcohol misuse can be used to good and positive effect. But in this case, the characters drank far too much and the harmful consequences were not shown".
The Portman Group argued that if an alcoholic drinks producer were to encourage excessive drinking or suggest an association with sexual success, it would be a clear breach of the alcohol advertising and marketing rules.
"There are strict controls on alcohol advertising and marketing but the impact of these rules is being diluted by irresponsible programming," added Mr Poley.
A BBC spokesman said: "Holby City takes the issue of the negative effects of alcohol abuse very seriously. On occasions when it does deal with alcohol within a storyline we always seek to handle the issue sensitively.
"The series is in the middle of a storyline in which a key character, Kyla, has spiralling problems in her personal and professional life because of alcohol - a storyline that fully and realistically depicts the negative impact of alcohol dependency in the workplace.
"Kyla has now been seen to seek help for alcoholism and the audience will see how she fares on the road to recovery."
From the start of next year, a new rule in the Portman Group's Code of Practice will also prevent the encouragement of rapid or down-in-one drinking