Dear Sweet and Sour,

One phrase that’s send shivers through my spine every year is … “Christmas Party”. Yes I’ve had fun attending and looked forward to them every year but really, they are just a gross recipe to court disaster. I’ve made the mistake that I think so many people have, of having one drink too many and then becoming a little more amorous than I otherwise would be!! And I’m sure you are all too familiar with those stares that work colleagues give you the day after.

I have been sacked from a previous job because of drunken and overtly sexual behaviour towards my CEO in public; and I think he was just covering himself in sacking me the following week, because his wife found out! My Boyfriend tells me that he lost his virginity at a Christmas Party that he went to when he was a teenager, and that was at his church group’s party.

The easy answer for me is not to go, but it’s not really that easy. This year I’m going with my boyfriend to his work Christmas/ New year party happening just after Christmas (which is a little odd to start) and his company has paid big dollars to make sure every employee and their partner has an abundance of food, drink and taxi vouchers for the night and he is insisting that I’m going and is so excited about it.

Frankly, I’m scared that I won’t be going home with my man cos I know, just like so many, my discipline doesn’t exist after a couple of drinks. What the hell should I do? Just pull a sickie? I can tell my boyfriend that I can’t drink for the night for one reason or another, but I know that probably won’t work for too long. I’m sure you’ve all been in this situation so please what do I do here??

Lisa, Kew, Victoria