While Canberra has yet to experience the full-on excesses that all too frequently spoil public celebrations in allegedly more cosmopolitan centres such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, there are signs we could be heading in that direction.
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Last year's New Year's Eve celebrations in the national capital were marred by arson and underage drinking with police condemning the behaviour of many revellers.
The arson attack involved a car fire on London Circuit that led to a man being questioned and charged.
Authorities were also forced to take a group of 15 underage drunks, who had been loitering in Civic into the early hours of the first morning of 2017, into protective custody on the basis they were a danger to themselves and an unattractive nuisance to others.
While such incidents still fall well short of the disgraceful behaviour displayed by thousands of revellers at "back packer" parties in Sydney and Melbourne over the Christmas weekend, they are an indication widespread drug and alcohol fuelled misbehaviour could become entrenched in the ACT given half a chance.
While Canberra lacks the "party destination" cachet that makes the Sydney and Melbourne beachfronts such a hit with backpackers and other floating populations, the central city area does act as a magnet for young people from across the territory and the wider region who are looking for something more than just a small town New Years Eve experience.
This, unfortunately, can involve ill-conceived experimentation with alcohol and other drugs, sexual misadventures, communications breakdowns, spontaneous outbreaks of violence and epidemics of vandalism.
And it goes without saying that the harder somebody parties the less likely they are to want to clean up after themselves.
Much of central Canberra was left looking like a rubbish dump on January 1, 2017. The rubbish collectors were already hard at work picking up the tonnes of empty bottles, drink containers and other rubbish that had been left behind long before most revellers were staggering from their beds.
The police and the trash collectors weren't the only ones working overtime. Spare a thought for the paramedics, doctors and nurses charged with putting the pieces back together after people's party plans suddenly went pear shaped.
The sad thing is most of the people who do come out to see in the New Year just want to have a pleasant time with their families and friends, stay sober and make it home in one piece.
This is a vision that is shared by the ACT Government and others who go out of their way to put on some great quality entertainment targeting all age groups and demographics.
This year's activities include an evening of live music in Civic Square, fireworks displays at both 9pm and midnight, a dance party in Garema Place and a wide range of events being held at various nightclubs, bars and restaurants.
There is a lot to enjoy and do.
Embrace the moment by not spoiling what should be a great night out for the rest of us.
