While engaging in a spot of corporate entertainment in the Italian dining region of Boston, a Goodbody stockbroker was recently mistaken for a vagrant bowsie by staff.

After paying the not inconsiderable bill, Mr Liam Booth suggested the waiter might bring another bottle of wine "for the road". The waiter rejected the proposal insisting such practice would be unacceptable. Several minutes and an apparent change of heart later, the waiter reappeared. In hushed tones, he warned Mr Booth what he was about to do was highly illegal as he pulled a bulging brown paper bag from under his arm.

It transpired he had literally interpreted the expression "for the road", and imagined Mr Booth had wanted to swill from the bottle as he travelled to his next port of call.