LOYAL subjects will be able to raise a glass to Her Majesty late into the night around the Queen's Golden Jubilee in York.

And late-night drinking is set to be more common generally in the city as police and magistrates respond to public demand for longer evenings out.

The first big impact of the new policy will be for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in June when landlords will not call time until 1am.

But police are also set to crackdown on under-age drinking after legal problems were removed in December.

Giving the annual police report to the York Brewster Sessions, Superintendent Steve Barlow said that reform of licensing laws was needed.

"In particular, York residents and tourists seek venues for entertainment, food and drink beyond 11pm," he said.

Four non-nightclub venues in York currently open until midnight four days a week and police would not normally object to applications to extend the midnight opening to the remaining three days.

In addition, police are currently reviewing whether midnight should be closing time.

Penny Curry, chairman of the licensing committee, responded by saying magistrates expected many more applications for midnight opening by venues offering entertainment, food and drink.

And she revealed that closing time on Friday May 31, Saturday June 1, and Bank Holiday Monday June 3 will be 1am.

Closing time on Sunday June 2 and Bank Holiday Tuesday June 4 will be extended to 11.30am. The extended weekend marks the main celebrations for the Golden Jubilee.

The bench will also grant midnight extensions for other events, including York Music Live between May 24 and May 27 and the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay on July 5 and July 6.

* Supt Barlow warned that police will restart test purchases to check that licensees are refusing to serve under-age drinkers.

For two years, York police have not used juveniles in such crackdowns for legal reasons, but a new law has now cleared the way.

Mrs Curry welcomed the police move, saying that York Youth Court often had to deal with offences committed by drunk juveniles.

Last year, police unsuccessfully applied for a 17-year-old youth to be declared a habitual drunkard after he was convicted three times of being drunk in public. He also committed other alcohol-related offences.

Updated: 08:38 Friday, February 08, 2002