"What they have done about off-licences in the community that is fine, that's good. What I am concerned about is the front loading before people go to town, the side loading in the car parks outside, and the on-licences notion of intoxication is questionable."
Mr King would like to have seen a one-way door restriction included in the policy.
His concerns are echoed by Hamilton Police. City licensing supervisor Sergeant Jim Kernohan told Hamilton News in December that police see a one-way door policy as a tool to assist the reduction of harm in the CBD, particularly between 2-3am when people are most affected by alcohol.
"That is the time that we have the greatest risk of harm and disorder and fighting in and around the CBD," said Mr Kernohan. "Local and international research would support the reduction of hours of trade as an effective means of reducing harm and therefore that is something we would like to see."
Mr King is also concerned at the potential social and behavioural issues created by people consuming legal highs and alcohol.
While council's carefully constructed legal highs policy has effectively shut down all legal high retailers in Hamilton, there may come a time when retailers can set up shop again.
Mr King's biggest concern is that a store may open on Hood St and could cause issues if the products were sold late at night and people mixed them with other substances, such as alcohol.
"There are some shortfalls in the synthetic high legislation - you can buy whatever amount you like, which leaves it open to the entrepreneur."
Mr King said people need to get away from the "she'll be right mate" way of thinking about alcohol consumption.
"No, she won't be right mate, she's going down the gurgler at a rate of knots, and we're going to be faced with huge problems related to alcohol and drug.
"Alcohol is a social lubricant and seen as an acceptable part of our society. People enjoy a drink, but many of us drink to excess.
"There are 700,000 New Zealanders who drink beyond four or five standard drinks per day on a regular basis."
In next week's issue of Hamilton News, Sacha Harwood will give a first-hand account of what the police deal with on the streets of our CBD in the early hours of the morning.