We’re just around the corner from the holidays, which means we’re also getting pretty close to the office party season. Office parties can be a lot of fun, and they’re the time when employers can say thanks to their employees who make their company possible. Since the winter quarter is often one of the most stressful to many businesses, it can also be a fun way to cut loose and have some fun with the people you work with, to let go of the stresses of the office and focus on having a good time.

All that being said, it’s also a good way to shoot your career in the foot. If you’ve ever been to an office holiday party, you know that there’s always at least one person who behaves inappropriately to the point where nobody at the office can take him or her seriously anymore. When you’re the one getting drunk and hitting on less-than-responsive co-workers, it’s hard for people to look at you the same way afterward. So the trick at an office party is to simultaneously enjoy yourself and still conduct yourself in a responsible, respectable way.

If you follow a few simple steps, you can retain your good name around the office:

Don’t drink too much. This one’s pretty obvious, but an open bar can be pretty tempting to a lot of people. One popular trick is to make every other drink a glass of water. This way, you’ll keep hydrated, drink less, and be better able to ascertain just how intoxicated you are. An upside is that you’ll be more likely to avoid a nasty hangover in the morning. As tempting as it may be, don’t make advances on your co-workers if it’s not reciprocal. Most companies will allow employees to date, but there are also sexual harassment laws and policies to think about. It’s better to err on the side of caution. It can be a good idea to share cabs rather than drive. Even if you go into the party expecting not to do much drinking, it’s safest to let somebody else do the driving. Even if you’re concerned about how pricey a cab ride might be, it’s still a whole lot cheaper than a DUI conviction.