Dear Mary: How can I stop predatory kisses at social gatherings?

Q. How can one politely stop predatory kissers? I am (or was) an affectionate and demonstrative person but I don’t wish to immediately go back to kissing and hugging — even close friends — at social events, let alone people I have just met. I accepted an invitation to my first (garden) lunch since lockdown because I was told we would be only six. I arrived to find we would be a much less manageable ten. One of the un-billed guests, a neighbour I’ve only met a few times, came immediately towards me saying: ‘Are you kissing?’ When I said ‘no’ he bore down on me anyway, saying ‘Well I’m going to kiss YOU!’ as though it were a compliment.
— A.W., Halifax

A. Your host should not have put you in this position. The irony is that although we feel no compunction in telling much-loved friends to keep their distance, it feels unfriendly to reject the enthusiasm of the second division.