BBC rapped over Holby City episode which showed 'gratuitous' display of binge drinking

The Portman Group says the scene of two medical staff downing tequila shots in the programme was a "serious breach" of Ofcom's broadcasting code.

It has written to the regulator calling for the episode to be investigated, and complained direct to the BBC.

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The 8pm Holby City episode, broadcast last month, showed a woman medic asking bar staff for tequila.

She asked for "five for starters" and urged the bar staff to "line them up" before telling a male colleague "neck these and back to mine".

The pair both downed the tequila shots but the programme showed no "harmful impact" of their drinking, according to the Portman Group's complaint.

The drinks industry body says in its complaint to Ofcom: "Such a graphic portrayal of harmful drinking behaviour was gratuitous and is a serious breach of Ofcom's broadcasting code.

"We would expect the BBC to take greater care with the portrayal of alcohol in programmes.

"We would not advocate censorship, nor deny that storylines of alcohol misuse can be used to good and positive effect, but those which include inappropriate, rapid or excessive alcohol consumption, particularly by otherwise sympathetic characters, can encourage imitation."

The risk of viewers imitating drinking behaviour shown on TV is increased if programme makers do not show any negative effects, said The Portman Group.

The organisation was set up by the UK's leading alcoholic drinks producers to promote responsible drinking

In a letter of complaint to BBC director general Mark Thompson dated September 25, Portman Group chief executive David Poley said: "Such a graphic and gratuitous portrayal of harmful drinking behaviour is a serious breach of Ofcom's broadcasting code and the BBC's editorial guidelines.

"It is likely to have reinforced the social acceptance of alcohol misuse among those people who do not realise the harm they are doing to themselves or to others through excessive drinking."

In a statement, the BBC said: "Holby City takes the issue of the negative effects of alcohol abuse very seriously.

"On occasions when our continuing drama series deal with alcohol within a storyline we always seek to handle the issue sensitivity.

"Holby City 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."