UNLESS you have been stuck on a desert island with no television, radio, computer or even a calendar, it has probably been relentlessly pounded into your brain that a once-in-a-millennium event is about to happen.
Apart from worrying whether the entire world is Y2K-compliant, and if it is better to fly away to an exotic, remote locale or spend New Year's Eve holed up at home with a two-week cache of food and money, the big question people are pondering is whether or not there is going to be enough champagne to toast the start of 2000.
Champagne makers and suppliers were predicting at least a year ago that there would not be enough bubbly for all the millennium revellers to pop the corks on their favourite bottles. They cautioned that drinkers should lay in a supply as early as possible, because demand - always up around the Christmas and New Year holidays - would be even greater this year, with celebrants wanting more than ever to make it a night to remember.
Jean Berchon, vice-president of communications and heritage of Moet & Chandon, said that for brut non-vintage 'standard' champagnes, there is little chance of running out.
'In the Champagne region at the beginning of the 90s, we were faced with a worldwide recession. At the same time the harvests were quite important, so we were in the situation where we had more stocks than sales. We were allowed by the governing body of the Champagne region, the CIVC [Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne], to stock some reserve wines in order to answer the demands, if the demand were to grow bigger.
'This is exactly the current situation: we now have more demand than supply. So we have been allowed to take these reserve stocks [and sell them]. Talking of non-vintage champagnes, I think the shortage will be little.' Of course, if you have the taste - and the cash - for the expensive stuff, you may want to order the rare champagnes and special vintages now.
Mr Berchon observed: 'If you want [rare bottles] such as vintage champagnes, roses or other special cuvees such as Dom Perignon, in this case there is a real shortage, since last year. Those wines are very rare, even in normal situations.' David Webster agreed. As managing director for Remy, his company represents Charles Heidsieck and Piper Heidsieck. 'There's no particular risk of running out, except at the higher ends. The vintage and rarer champagnes might be in tight supply, and this is something that can extend into next year.' To avoid disappointing customers, Mr Webster has ordered extra champagne, which should be delivered to Hong Kong by the middle of next month.