America’s Christmas work party report 2025

The holiday season may bring cheer, but the office Christmas party? That’s a whole different story.

Casino Guru USA asked 4,000 Americans how they really behave at work holiday celebrations - from excessive drinking to awkward romances, inappropriate manager antics, and next-day regret.

Across the country, employees are split: festive fun for some, red-flag behavior for others. And depending on where you live, the odds of witnessing something unforgettable change dramatically.

National highlights: The good, the bad & the cringeworthy

Here’s what Americans say about their work Christmas parties overall:

Across state lines, the holiday party culture varies more than expected.

The States most likely to say "thanks but no thanks" to the work Christmas party

Some states simply don’t want anything to do with the workplace holiday bash. These five lead the country in saying "No" when asked if they planned to attend:

Cold winters, cold RSVPs.

Excessive drinking: Where it happens the most

Despite 4 in 5 Americans saying it’s inappropriate, excessive drinking remains the #1 issue at work parties. Here are the top 5 States that usually drink an average of 5 + alcoholic beverages at the Xmas party bash:

Everything’s bigger in Texas - including the holiday hangovers.

PDA & romance: The States with the spiciest office parties

Workplace romance is a reality nationwide, but some states see far more festive flirting than others.

Apparently what happens at the office party… doesn’t always stay there.

When the noss misbehaves: States with the highest rates of senior-level misconduct

One in four Americans has seen a senior leader act inappropriately at a Christmas work party - but certain states report it far more.

Beer fear: The States with the most next-day regret

Holiday joy fades, but regret lasts forever - at least for these states. Here are the top States who admitted they regretted something at a work Xmas party:

North Carolina takes the regret crown here with 1 in 4 North Carolinians having their head in their hands the next morning- not exactly the trophy they wanted.

Regret behaviors included texting/calling in sick because of a hangover, avoiding certain workers out of embarrassment, having to apologize to someone, checking social media to see if there were any photos, and replaying the night obsessively the following day.

Age groups: Who judges holiday drinking the most?

Survey respondents overwhelmingly agree excessive drinking is inappropriate - but not equally across age.

• 65+ - 90% (Most disapproving)
• 55–64 - 83%
• 21–24 - 81% (Surprisingly strict!)
• 35–44 - 81%
• 45–54 - 80%
• 25–34 - 74% (Most lenient)

Younger adults, including Gen Z, are slightly more tolerant than boomers - but not by much.

Occupations with the heaviest drinkers

Some professions go particularly hard at the holiday party. Here are the top 10 occupations that usually drink an average of 5 + alcoholic beverages at the Xmas party bash:

Sales workers lead by a wide margin - closing deals and opening bottles.

Conclusion

America’s work Christmas parties vary wildly from state to state, industry to industry, and generation to generation. But one thing is clear: even in the age of smartphones and social media, holiday office celebrations remain unpredictable, messy, and memorable.

Some states say no to the party altogether. Others dive in head-first - sometimes too literally. Whether it’s excessive drinking, romantic missteps, or questionable leadership behavior, the festive season continues to reveal how employees really unwind when the workday ends.

Methodology

This analysis is based on a nationwide survey of 4,000 Americans, conducted to understand attitudes and behaviors surrounding workplace Christmas parties.

Respondents were sourced from across all 50 states, with sample sizes weighted to ensure geographic and demographic representation. Participants were asked about their experiences, observations, and impressions of work-related holiday celebrations - including alcohol consumption, workplace romance, inappropriate behavior, and next-day regret.

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