The 30-year-old played 197 games with the Western Bulldogs and was a two-time All-Australian defender before being traded to Hawthorn ahead of the 2013 AFL season.
He is expected to be a massive piece of the Hawks' charge to a first premiership since 2008 and to help make up for losing the 2012 grand final to Sydney, but he now has a significant stumbling block to get through to ensure he can earn the respect and trust of his new teammates.
Lake was at a hotel in Sorrento, coastal Victoria, on Saturday night with his wife and some friends, and was in the process of leaving the venue with his wife when he was issued with the infringement notice for being intoxicated in a public place by police at approximately 10pm.
Hawthorn will certainly not be blowing off the incident and in a club statement on Sunday highlighted just how seriously they are treating it.
"The club considers Lake's conduct to be unprofessional and he will be required to address the leadership group tomorrow."