New Year’s Eve Kissing Etiquette

Kissing in general is a touchy subject! Do I kiss on a first date? (Go ahead!) Should I kiss and tell? (Never!) Does a kiss mean a commitment? (Hardly!)

Add the pressure of a New Year’s Eve countdown, a first date with someone you don’t know very well, or a room full of people you’d prefer to eat sushi with, and your thoughts can go wild with fear. Follow a few simple etiquette tips and you will enter the New Year virtually unscathed.

• Carry a beautiful glass full of bubbly. When the ball drops, raise your glass and toast those around you. Others may not be holding a glass but they will get the idea that a smooch from you is not up for grabs.
• Reach for the shoulders. When you see Billy Bob Brown racing in your direction, reach forward and stabilize his shoulders with your arms while leaning to the left, or right, for a very distant air kiss. Clearly a bit uncomfortable for both you and Billy Bob, but it sends a direct message that you are not interested in a New Year’s kiss.
• Never is planning more important. Talk to your friends and schedule a place to meet for a big group hug at 12:00 am. If a friend or two falls out of the mix, you still have 2 or 3 other people surrounding you like layers of an onion.
• Go for the cheek. If you are standing next to friends or someone you are comfortable kissing, (not necessarily on the lips), a genuine kiss on the cheek is harmless. Even a quick brush of your cheek against theirs is a perfectly acceptable New Year’s Eve gesture.
• Volunteer to take pictures. Offering to help your host capture the spirit of the evening gives you an excuse to run around from person to person, snapping shots of other people’s awkward midnight moments. Avoid taking pics of people in unflattering poses.
• Excuse yourself from the party and drive home in time to watch the ball drop on television. Enjoy the majority of the party and leave shortly before midnight. Don’t wait until 11:50 or it will look too obvious. Say goodbye to the host and explain you have an early morning breakfast with a friend and need your rest. Don’t slip out the back door and hope no one will notice.
• Short and sweet. Even if you are with a person of interest on New Year’s Eve, don’t overdo it. Give the person a quick kiss and leave the longer, passionate lip locks for another venue.
• Mints, anyone? Before you give a New Year’s Eve kiss to a lucky girl or guy, make sure your breath is minty fresh.
• Red lips sink ships. Guys, it goes without saying that dark lipstick is a telltale sign you’ve been kissed by another girl if your girlfriend only wears clear gloss. Make sure the lipstick on your lips matches your girlfriend’s signature color.
• Have fun. Don’t stress over a midnight lip exchange. It is merely a tradition and if you are uncomfortable with forced signs of affection, no worries. Traditions are meant to be broken. Don’t let an age old custom ruin your night of fun and laughter with your friends.