Drunk Kiss Dilemma: So You Drunk Kissed Someone… Now What?!

So, you shared a drunk kiss with someone, and now things are just plain weird. So, what should you do to break the tension?

If you drink there is a good chance you’ve shared a drunk kiss with someone at some point. In the moment, it may have felt right or perhaps you weren’t even really thinking about it.

But, you woke up the next day and you feel differently. Maybe you regret it or maybe you wish it had happened when you weren’t drunk. You don’t know how the other person feels about it or if they even remember.

Can you say nothing and act like it never happened? Or should you address it?

[Read: 10 reasons why drunken sex is never a good idea]

Do you fully remember your drunk kiss?

This is something you really should answer before dealing with a drunk kiss. You don’t want to talk to the person about it if you aren’t exactly sure what happened.

When drunk, your memory may be a bit foggy. To you, the kiss could have meant something, but to them, a sloppy mistake. You don’t want to go into a conversation about it before actually knowing what went down.

In this case, ask a friend who was there if they remember what happened. Did they see it? Did you tell them about it that night? Ask them if it seemed enjoyable for both of you or like a drunk mess. This way you have a better idea of where to go from here.

[Read: What to talk about when you’re drunk with your date]

If you were both drunk and it meant nothing, you may be able to go on without addressing it. But, if you cried afterwards or feel like you crossed a friendship line, you can now talk about it with a bit more clarity.

Do you regret your drunk kiss?

I’ve been there and maybe you have too. I once danced with a guy at a party. At the moment I knew I was a little tipsy but felt fine. We started to make out and I thought nothing of it, until the next day.

He lived in my building and that drunk kiss could make things really awkward. Did he think I liked him? I really wasn’t interested in him and was nervous about letting him down. At first, I avoided him, but when I was in the elevator with him the following weekend I brought it up.

I apologized for potentially leading him on and being drunk, and he didn’t even remember it. So, it worked out better than I could have hoped.

Now, I only regretted it out of awkwardness. But, if you regret a drunk kiss because it was your ex, things could get messy. Or if your drunk kiss was with someone other than your significant other, you’ll have a bit more following up to do.

So, what does that look like?

[Read: How to avoid the drama of drunken texts]

How to deal with your drunk kiss

Depending on who your drunk kiss was with, dealing with it will be quite different. In some cases, you can ignore it and move on, but others require a bit of patience and communication.

What’s your drunk kiss situation?

#1 The messy quick kiss. Whether this kiss was with someone you know or not, in most cases it can be forgotten along with the mess you left in that cab. If there is nothing notable about the kiss other than the vague memory of someone else’s alcohol breath, it is best left in the past.

Now, if the person remembers and wants to talk to you about it, it is best to be respectful. Let them know you were drunk and barely remember it. Hopefully, they will understand and move on too. [Read: Have you accidentally kissed a friend and gotten away with it?]

#2 The drunk friend kiss. A drunk friend kiss can be something silly to laugh at next weekend, or it can make what was once a platonic friend pretty complicated. This all depends on if there are feelings between you or if you are just both extra friendly when drunk.

If this has happened before or it was with a friend you know will handle it with a laugh, it shouldn’t be a big deal. But, if your drunk kiss was shared with a friend you might have feelings for or who might have feelings for you, it can be hard to turn back now.

[Read: Want to keep it platonic? How to get over a crush on your friend]

If this is the case for you, face it head-on. If not, you risk your friendship and even weeks of prolonged awkwardness. Instead, talk to your friend about it. Let them know how you feel about them and ask them how they feel about it.

This can be cleared up as just a drunk kiss or could potentially lead to the romance you’ve been hoping for.

#3 The regretful crush kiss. This is the drunk kiss that happens when you are feeling lonely and kiss the person you know likes you. This is a selfish moment of weakness kiss that happens because you know you won’t be rejected.

This can turn into something really messy and unfortunate. When you realize that you kissed someone that has actual interest in you but those feelings aren’t matched, you now must face it.

You don’t want to lead on an innocent person who likes you or give them the wrong idea. Let them know you’re sorry, but that you were having a rough night and that the kiss shouldn’t have happened. Yes, you will let them down, but it is better than getting their hopes up.

#4 The rebound kiss. Just went through a breakup? Maybe your friends dragged you out to perk you up or you went out to get your mind off of your recent heartbreak? Either way, a rebound drunk kiss is not too shocking.

We often focus our attention on someone new to get over the person from our past, even if it is just for one night. So, if you shared a drunk kiss with a coworker, friend, or stranger because you were on the rebound, let them know that that was the reason behind it so that no one gets involved. [Read: How to tell if a kiss meant something and wasn’t a fling thing]

#5 The emotional ex kiss. I’ve been here too. Often, you don’t need to be that drunk for this kiss to happen. You could have one drink and give in to the temptation of an ex being there and available. It happens.

And the problem here is that one kiss can lead you right back to your old habits. This could be a one-time drunk kiss with an ex because you have history and chemistry or can get dragged out into a brief rekindling. If you share a drunk kiss with an ex, it is best to let them know it was just the alcohol pushing you towards what was familiar and didn’t mean anything more. There is a reason you broke up. [Read: You kissed your ex? The complete damage control guide]

#6 The one night stand kiss. The drunk kiss that led to the shortest relationship of your life is something unique for sure. This is the drunk kiss that comes with someone you cling to all night. You might dance or talk about your deepest darkest feelings and of course, you kiss.

But, at the end of the night, you went your separate ways without exchanging numbers or maybe even names. This can be something you can look back on and smile. But, you could also feel like you missed out on something great. In this case, remind yourself that you were drunk.

A drunk kiss can make you see things differently than they were. Alcohol is like wearing rose-colored glasses. Not only could they have seemed more attractive than they were but it was one night, and it is unlikely they were your soulmate. [Read: Your drunk girlfriend kissed another guy? Here’s what you’ve gotta do]

#7 The bold kiss. So you had a few drinks in you and finally went for it with the person you’ve been crushing on? Good for you, but also yikes. You may have revealed more than you wanted to or got your hopes up.

I know it will be wildly uncomfortable but talking to your crush about it is the only way to clear the air. Let them know you have been wanting to kiss them, but the liquid courage is what led you to it that night. See what they say. Good luck. [Read: Here’s how to tell your crush you like them]

#8 The cheating kiss. And then there is the cheating kiss. This one is completely unfortunate and hard to handle. Whether you used the drinking as an excuse to kiss someone or really didn’t have control over your faculties, you should tell your significant other.

Chances are they will find out from someone else, and it is always best to hear it from you. If my partner kissed someone else when they were drunk I’d be pissed, sure. But, if they came clean right away, there would be a much higher chance for forgiveness than if they hid it and I found out another way.

[Read: How to express your feelings and get your point across the right way]

A drunk kiss is what it is, but the fallout from it is never simple. The good news is that you can remedy anything with top-notch communication.