How to survive the work Christmas party

The Christmas work do is always a great opportunity to mingle with colleagues outside the pressures of everyday work - it’s often the time that you get to see the lighter side of the people you work with day in day out. While there’s nothing wrong with celebrating that with a couple of drinks, drinking too much might mean you wake up the next morning regretting something you’ve done or said to someone at work.

Stay in control

Although you can never guarantee an embarrassment-free evening, one sure fire way to reduce the odds is to keep in control by watching what you drink.

Start by trying to ensure your alcohol intake doesn’t stray too far from the government’s daily unit guidelines which advise that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily (equivalent to a 175ml glass of 13% wine) and men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily (equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer).

Try making sure that food comes first. Even if you do stick to the guidelines, there's still a danger that you could feel drunk after a single glass of wine if you haven’t eaten properly since breakfast. Eating slows down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, which will help you avoid getting drunk too quickly. So, remember to eat a meal before the event itself and get stuck into the nut ‘n nibbles that are laid on.

Make a positive impression

“Last year one of my big clients invited me to their Christmas do at a local hotel,” says Chris, a freelance designer. “I knew I had to make a good impression so I could get more business from them in the year ahead, so I made the decision to watch what I drank.”By alternating alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ‘spacers’, Chris reckons he was able to stay within the daily unit guidelines and avoid any drunken blunders.

“I managed to talk to everyone in the team and make some new contacts,” he says. “And best of all, I was able to leave at a reasonable hour with a clear conscience!”

Christmas party tips

• Don't drink too much - remember having fun does not have too mean drinking too much!
• Pace yourself. If you don’t want to get embarrassing in front of your boss, space out alcoholic drinks with plenty of soft options like juice or mineral water. They’ll help keep you hydrated and more in control of what you say and do.
• Look out for others. If you see one of your colleagues getting out of control, why not take them a glass of water and some snacks? They’ll thank you for it in the morning.
• Get creative with the drinks menu. If you’re in charge of booking a Christmas bash, choose somewhere with a great selection of non-alcoholic cocktails so guests have a tempting alternative to alcohol.
• Make room for more food. Thanks to the upmarket options now available, party food doesn’t have to be about stale crisps and beer nuts. Still, tucking into any kind of food will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your body.
• Get home safely. Whether you plan to drink or not, ensure that you know how you’re getting home from the party before you set out. When you leave, see if anyone else wants to share your cab.

Page last updated by

Matthew Bateman, 05 Dec 2011.

Page checked on

11 Dec 2009