If you've had your eye on someone at work for three months, an office event, usually the type involving alcohol, is your perfect chance to make your move.

He doesn't wear a ring and the gay guy in IT doesn't give him a second look. And he's been paying you compliments for weeks. It's time to pin him down.

But before you consider batting your eyelashes at him over the beer and wine, stop and think. Is this a good idea? How much do you want it? How will you feel about it tomorrow?

Getting cock-eyed

It's easy to get carried away with the free alcohol firms provide for work nights out and summer parties, after all, how often does the chief exec buy the drinks?

But a drunken fling is rarely a good idea. Let's face it, you're not thinking straight. Do you actually know with whom you are flirting? Can you see straight?

Maybe it IS the guy you've fancied for months, but it might also be the IT geek with no concept of personal space - or your married-with-two-kids boss!

Let's face it: too many drinks can make anyone seem like Mr Right - but he rarely is.

Becca, 29, learnt this the hard way. She recalls: ''Three years ago I was rebounding from a break-up and was determined to pull. Three large glasses of white wine into the evening and I was in a clinch with a guy who'd just joined the firm. It boosted my confidence no end - but having to walk into the office the following Monday was excruciating. Thankfully he was great about it and we laughed - but only after a weekend agonising over what everyone would think of me.''

What have you got to lose?

Well, quite a bit actually. Blurring the boundaries between personal and professional can be a big mistake. Whoever he is, it's most likely you WILL have to work together again. And that can have major implications.

At the very least you'll be the subject of office gossip. But, depending on your professional relationship, the damage to your position might be much worse.

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Someone might get accused of sexual harassment. Is he your subordinate? Will he continue to respect your decisions? Is he your boss? Does this affect how he delegates to you, or your chances of promotion? Will he suddenly find you a threat?

Even if everything's fine, you're going to spend a lot of time worrying about it and be forced to have one of those awkward conversations. And if things turn sour, can you continue working together? Do you want to be the one to sacrifice your job?

Happy endings

But, hey, maybe this guy is the one. After all, more than half of us have begun relationships with someone we met in the workplace. Research by Vault.com indicates that 25 per cent of office flings lead to long-term relationships or marriage.

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If you do want your fling to turn into forever, you need to set some ground rules about how you'll negotiate your relationship. A new romance in the office is disruptive and you may have to withstand criticism. Some companies discourage office relationships - and a few actually forbid them.

Be proactive: as soon as you know it's serious, broach the situation with your boss (especially if your new man IS your boss). Honesty is often the best policy. Does one of you need to transfer to a different department? Even if your co-workers know you are together keep your relationship discreet and separate. If anyone asks, acknowledge the relationship, but don't get embroiled in the details.

Rachel, 34, is someone who got it right. She advises: "When Tom and I finally got it together, I was really anxious about whether it would work out. We are lucky and it did, and I still say it was the best day's work he's ever done! But we were really careful to not draw attention to ourselves and everyone accepted it as a result, with very little fuss."

Keep domestic arrangements to a minimum and positively avoid talking dirty and sneaking kisses at the coffee machine.

Follow a few common-sense rules and your fling has a chance of flourishing, not foundering.