The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland is demanding the immediate withdrawal a new advertisement that has run in the Irish Independent, claiming it is “misogynistic”.

The Stop Out-of-Control Drinking advert was published this morning, and the RCNI says it suggests that women who drink are “asking” to become victims of sexual and physical assault.

In their press release, RCNI director Clíona Saidléar says the print advert targets women with shame, saying: “The young girl has been attacked on her way home. The message is it’s her fault for being drunk and what is more it is also her mother’s fault for her own drinking habits.”

“The belief that drunk girls, or even girls that have a few drinks in a social setting, are ‘asking for it’ is lazy cultural belief that needs to be strongly challenged. She said the ad implied not only ‘blamed’ the victim in this case, but her mother too,” she added.

In response, the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking organisation had said that it was intended for the image to be provocative, but that the Rape Crisis Network has “wildly misunderstood and misinterpreted” the message.

“The ads are designed to say, amongst other things, that our behaviour influences those around us. The ad depicts an older sister who has returned home after a night of clearly excessive drinking, who is being watched by her younger sister,” the campaign statement says.

“Many of us have worked with the victims of abuse and assault over many years, and would never allow any untrue inference of that kind. It is an entirely unworthy assertion, based on a misinterpretation,” the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking spokesperson says.

On this evening’s Right Hook, George will speak to Clíona Saidléar of the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland, but we’d also like to know what you think. Please take a moment to answer our poll, and tune in live at 4.45pm: http://www.newstalk.com/player/

If you cannot see the poll, please follow this link.