It is a sad fact of life that the thousands of responsible people who welcome in the new year with a glass of champagne or a beer are to be denied this pleasure because of the actions of a few - who abuse alcohol.
Whole families congregate at viewing points to watch the fireworks - but this year it will be an offence to have any alcoholic drink in your possession. This may be confiscated by the police - and you may face court, charged with breaking the law - even if that drink is low alcohol in strength.
What odds that the newspapers on New Year's day still report ugly scenes and arrests caused by too much alcohol consumption, despite responsible people being denied the picnic atmosphere they have enjoyed in family groups for years.
People are prevented from taking any alcohol to the parks and headlands from which the fireworks can be viewed, but the clubs and pubs adjacent to them will still be trading - and when that magic hour approaches and the sky lights up - many will rush from licensed premises to watch - and their fill of alcohol will have already been consumed.
It seems to be a natural Australian trait that many people do not like to be told what they can - and what they can not do. We are a rebellious lot, and this ban will encourage some to simply shun the large and bulky slabs of beer - and resort to spirits, which are easier to hide.
The hard part about this alcohol ban decision is that it delivers a win to the bad guys !
The good guys - who drink responsibly and do absolutely no harm sipping the odd beer within a family group - have their pleasure banned while the irresponsible mob will do what it pleases anyway.
Year after year - decision after decision - it is always the good people who suffer - rather than the offenders being brought into line.
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