To plan on getting quite drunk at my work Christmas party?

I'm public sector so we also fund our own Christmas dos. For a number of years, there's been a general email reminding us to behave ourselves on work nights out. New CEO this year and it hasn't appeared - yet!

It's really not worth doing otherwise!

I didn’t mean treat it like a royal garden party, I meant treat it like something you would not want to make a tit of yourself at, like your DH’s boss’s wedding, or a charity ball or an industry awards event. Have a good time but stay in control.

Was exactly like that last weekend 🙄
It’s not a piss up in the coffee room at the hospital but work friends getting together for some fun and down time in their own time, at their own expense.

One thing to be aware of us that there are some people who like to look out for you when you are slightly the worse for wear, set you up to say something indiscreet (it doesn't even have to be something big:in fact mostly it is something relatively benign). Then, when they want to look good at your expense, they will take this minor indiscretion and twist it to make you sound terrible and them sound good.
I worked with someone who did this to several colleagues and it left me paranoid about ever letting my guard slip

Word to the wise......you will fare far better if you are the one who stayed sober and remembered what they all did. 51 years old, not at all bitter but wise because I made the mistake you are about to make.

But you'll make it anyway, I was young and arrogant once too...

Just get merry but not blind drunk! I still am mortified and regret something I did back in 2004 after too many drinks at a work party. Remember you have to face these people the next days,months, years….

I have worked in the NHS for over 20 years. Every Christmas party has involved a few drinks. Just don't get really drunk. Have soe drinks and have fun. NHS work isnt easy and you deserve to let your hair down. Make sure you aren't the most drunk person there! Enjoy x

Let your hair down but remember these people aren't your friends, they are your co workers. You have no idea what type of people they are with a bit of alcohol in them. You don't want to accidentally say the wrong thing, to the wrong person.

Do not do this. You’ll look like an idiot, very unprofessional. Stick to drinking a lot when you’re with your own friends.

Drinking too much with colleagues blurs boundaries and can even ruin your career if you say or do something inappropriate while drunk. You also risk annoying your colleagues for making them feel responsible for your safety.

Even if others drink a lot you don’t have to try and keep up. And will any of you have work the next day? Going and caring for patients while hungover is not on.

Before changing jobs, I worked in the hospital for about 6 years! Christmas parties were always full of very drunk Drs and nurses and HCAs, the job is incredibly stressful (from what I've heard, even more so now) so let your hair down and get drunk! Just try not to get to a point that you're then too drunk to remember anything 🤭. Enjoy your well deserved night out with your team. Xx

Sorry op, you sound quite immature. Do you really want your work colleagues to see you completely wasted doing embarrassing or stupid stuff?

While I think that the reasoning that because you are a nurse in a responsible job you shouldn’t get drunk on your Christmas night out is flawed (come on folks, it’s not like they are drinking on the job with the patients or wearing their uniform bringing the NHS into disrepute although I would be careful of social media posts and colleagues posting pictures), I still wouldn’t get too drunk. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself with new colleagues. I’d have enough to get slightly merry and leave it at that.

Love the synopsis of that London Zoo case.

A London Zoo meerkat handler who got into a Christmas party fight with a monkey specialist over their love rivalry for a llama keeper was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has held.

I think you’ve mis-described the event.

If it’s a work Christmas party - don’t get drunk. It will bite you later in your career.

If it’s a social event with work colleagues - do what you like. Obviously make sure you have solid plans for getting yourself home safely if you plan to get drunk though!

Merry Christmas xx

Oh my God have some fun while you're young!!! Not paralytic but merry!!

Why should you need to get drunk at all, ever! It is quite possible to have a good time without. Besides the works party is definitely not the place and don't be fooled by others appearances. You need to grow up a little bit more yet too.

You carry on thinking that dear, because clearly you know best...

I can raise your game lol - I overdid it at a work do (the drinks were free which is never a good idea really though it seemed like it at the time!) in 1989 and missed out on a promotion because they thought I was immature in partaking in all the lovely free drink they made available to me!!

So, just a word to the wise. Some people seem to think it will never happen to them!!

Fun can also be had while you're old, believe it or not.

Having too much "fun" with work colleagues is a terrible idea because your work colleagues are not your friends.

I agree. Older and wiser now! 😀 but still mortified whenever I see a certain someone 20 years later!!

1989!!! Wow 🤣🤣

An old teaching colleague of mine got hammered at prom and was crowd surfing on the year 11s. It wasn’t his finest moment and he received a disciplinary for it. I don’t think it’s a great idea to get wasted at professional work related things but this was next level.

Do as you please, I employ staff and quite a few of them get pretty drunk on our works night out - usually ends up being a lot of fun.

Define fun haha

Well, I know one girl that had to leave her job after the work night out. She was so embarrassed. And to be fair, she really did need to leave after it.
no. I wouldn’t plan on getting drunk. I used to plan to drive or stay reasonable. It was awful watching some of the drunk antics.