Today officially marks the start of New Zealand's summer. Unofficially, it also marks the start of the country's festive season.
Already, Santa parades have been held in some places, with others coming to a centre near you in the next week or so.
And with the start of the festive season comes renewed warnings to be careful about drinking and driving - because from today, alcohol limits are lowered significantly for drivers aged over 20.
The new limits lower from 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath to 250mcg for drivers over 20. The blood-alcohol limit will reduce from 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. (A zero alcohol tolerance for drivers under 20 was introduced in 2011.)
The relevant legislation also creates a new offence for drivers with a breath-alcohol level of between 251mcg and 400mcg.
Offenders with a breath-alcohol level within the lower range will receive an infringement fee of $200, and 50 demerit points. Drivers who refuse or fail to undergo a breath test will be fined $700 as well as handed 50 demerit points.
The law changes came earlier this year after a two-year review of the impact of lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit by 30 milligrams suggested each year 3.4 lives will be saved and 64 injury-causing crashes will be avoided.
Alcohol is a factor in about 30% of New Zealand's fatal road crashes. In the past 10 years, fatal crashes caused by drink-driving have claimed the lives of about 1100 people and caused serious injuries to another 5300.
The average annual social cost of alcohol-related crashes is $446 and the new measures are set to save $200 million a year.
The law says you must not drive if the amount of alcohol in your breath exceeds the limits. Yet we continue to see regular appearances before our courts of drivers exceeding the old limits and fatalities on the roads caused by excess alcohol being consumed by drivers.
There are many factors which will determine how quickly alcohol is absorbed - including body type, gender, weight and food intake. Even small amounts of alcohol affect judgement, and the ability to drive safely begins to deteriorate after even one drink.
Guidance suggests most adults may be able to drink two standard drinks over two hours and be likely to remain under the new drink-driving limits for alcohol. A standard drink is equivalent to 330ml of beer, 100ml of wine or 32ml of spirits.
Police say they are ready for the lower limits and a wide-ranging advertising campaign is advising drivers to play safe by avoiding alcohol altogether or arranging alternative transport.
Road policing national manager Carey Griffiths says research indicates an additional 19,000 drivers may fall into the infringement range annually but it is impossible to predict numbers with certainty. The number of drink-driving prosecutions is steadily falling and police anticipate the lowered level will have a strong deterrent effect.
Employers are being warned to be responsible over work functions and ensuring employees get home safely after festive celebrations.
There are moves afoot to prosecute employers if it is proven drunk drivers who crash come from a work function. While those measures are not likely to be in place until next year, it is important employers start to prepare now.
In the end, it comes down the individual to make a decision not to drive drunk. Yes, people can drink and drive - within the new limits imposed for today. Driving drunk, which can be described as over the legal limit, is the main concern.
December can be a stressful month for New Zealanders as deadlines need to be met at work, coupled with Christmas spending pressures mounting up on families.
Alcohol is often used as a crutch, particularly at functions surrounded by friends and workmates. Today is a good time to start reassessing personal priorities and ensuring driving safely is one of the things at the top of the list.
