One of the certainties of this holiday season is widespread and heavy drinking of alcohol.
Such is New Zealand's culture that many of us will skol and swallow large amounts of liquor, often to gross excess. Often, too, there will even be pride in the quantities being put away in this our boozy society.
Against this background, the changes in alcohol laws are promising.
Although they were criticised by some health advocacy groups as being inadequate and too timid, police called the first weekend under them a success.
Police now have the power to issue alcohol infringement notices for several offences including breach of alcohol bans, lending ID to an under-18-year-old and presenting fake ID, each incurring a $250 fine.
The alcohol ban breach was used by police on two ''unco-operative and belligerent'' women in Queenstown last Friday night, with the changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act coming into effect the previous morning.
Crucially, bars are not only prohibited from serving intoxicated people, but also from having them on the premises.
This sends a much clearer message about the drunkenness, and it can be backed by a fine for bars of $10,000.
Off-licences, which include supermarkets, must close by 11pm and on-licences by 4am.
There are concerns, notably from Hospitality New Zealand, about large crowds spilling on to streets at 4am. But this was not an issue last weekend.
No doubt, this weekend and then New Year will be a bigger test. In fact, overall, police saw a drop in alcohol-related harm events last weekend compared with previous December weekends.
There is no doubt alcohol lies behind much violence, anti-social behaviour and other problems. It is repeatedly a scourge.
Thus, its regulation for the greater good is essential. Nonetheless, unlike tobacco smoking, it does not cause harm in moderation.
And is appreciated and enjoyed by many. Prohibition would never work and a balance between rights, responsibilities and harm has to be reached.
While the alcohol law changes were never going to solve most of the issues, it is heartening their introduction is being viewed positively.
Not so helpful is the emergence of alcohol sachets. They have steadily been extending their reach over the past year and are now available in nearly 100 North Island liquor shops.
Police have become alarmed and are looking at ways that they might be curbed.
They are 25ml each and slip into purses or wallets, and there are pictures on the ''Cheeky'' website of a sachet being placed in a jeans back pocket and a wallet.
It has not taken long for a school principal to express concern, as has the Health Promotion Agency. Of particular note is the fact they are obviously pitched at younger drinkers.
It is all too easy to imagine ''shots'' being smuggled into school balls, sports events and concerts. ''Preloading'' also becomes all the easier.
Cheeky co-owner Lewis Gyde maintains the product is not designed to encourage binge drinking. Each sachet contains only 0.4 of a standard drink and the sachets - in Vanilla Mixer and Apple Sours - are ''flexible and convenient''.
They retail for about $10 for a pack of six.
While it might be true regular binge drinkers would prefer cheaper and quicker fixes, the sachets are still 20% alcohol, a much higher concentration than for beer or wine, and it is easy to see younger or less experienced drinkers finding they are accessible and popular.
It seems, once again, as with legal highs, as soon as progress is made in one area, another threat emerges.
There are no easy answers in this country, and for that matter in many parts of the world, to the threats caused by the misuse of alcohol and other drugs.
Authorities and society will, simply, have to keep working at the various issues to minimise the harm and to change attitudes.
