I'm a little puzzled. If you're uncomfortable having business drinks with women, and you've seen how a simple invitation can go badly in a sexual harassment context, why not just <i>stop</i> having drinks as a context for a business meeting with either men or women? Have lunch, get together for coffee, etc.
As a man who doesn't drink I can't help but feel the problem here isn't drinking with the opposite sex but drinking as part of a business relationship (outside the Christmas party).<p>I don't think I would be particularly comfortable at such a meeting; If I did drink I'd not enjoy the act and quickly become introverted (I have a low tolerance, I'm not used to it). If I didn't drink I would feel I'm not committing to the social aspect of the meeting.<p>What's wrong with a working lunch?
The wife of the person the article is addressing seems oddly absent from the article. I am guessing a lot of men do not go out for drinks alone with women in a professional context out of respect for their wife's feelings.
There's a chance the wife is having drinks with other men (just as friends) and she feels guilty so wants her husband to get drinks with other women as well.