The acceptability of common forms of social behaviour like smoking or drinking tends to alter over time. There is a difficult balance to be struck by programme makers between the danger of encouraging potentially damaging habits, particularly amongst the young, and the need to reflect the range of public attitudes and behaviour realistically. In both drama and factual programmes there are cases where smoking is essential to a character or story. But in general programmes, such as a studio debate, smoking is likely to be objectionable. Contributors can be reminded of such issues before recording begins.
Similar judgements have to be made about the portrayal of drinking.
Factual programmes should deal accurately and fully with all aspects of the issues involved. Fiction should offer a realistic reflection of the place of alcohol in social life. Producers must be sensitive to the anti-social aspects of excessive consumption. Producers may need to be aware of religious sensitivities about smoking and drinking, particularly when making a programme for international broadcast. For example, associating a person who may be perceived to be a Muslim with tobacco or alcohol, may take on added significance for the audience.