The advert ran in a recent holiday catalogue for US department store chain Bloomingdale's.

US retail giant Bloomingdale's has been forced to apologise after an advert in its Christmas catalogue sparked outrage that it encouraged date rape.

The ad features a man staring at a laughing woman with the tagline: "Spike your best friend's eggnog when they're not looking".

But critics took to Twitter to vent their anger.

"When did date rape become a tool to advertise Christmas?" wrote Robyn.

Andy Barr wrote: "Oh, Bloomingdales... a few things are a bit non-lol, date rape being one!"

Jim Roberts commented: "Someone at Bloomingdale's thought this ad was smart. I assume that person has been fired."

Bloomingdale's wrote an apology saying: "We heard your feedback about our catalog copy, which was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale's sincerely apologises."