title: Drop column if exists in SQL Server 2008 r2
body: <p>I am using SQL Server 2008 R2.</p>
  
  <p>I want to drop the column if it is already exists in the table else not throw any error.</p>
  
  <p>Tried:</p>
  
  <pre><code>ALTER TABLE Emp 
  DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS Lname;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Error: </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'IF'.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>By searching I came to know that, this option is available from 2016.</p>
  
  <p>What is the alternative in the SQL Server 2008 R2?</p>