DRINK all night, but drink safely is the message from police after the Government announced the go-ahead for pubs to open for an unbroken 36 hours over New Year's Eve.

Revellers across North Yorkshire can party through the early hours of January 1. However, York licensing officer PC Ashley Fitzhugh does not expect pubs to take advantage of the new rules much beyond midnight, although he is concerned some revellers may overdo it in the ones that do.

"I can't see many pubs seeing past 2am or 3am," he said. "There will be very few premises where the party will go on too late. It is good that the Government has granted this freedom of choice to drinkers.

"It should stop binge drinking and make policing easier on the night as revellers will be staggered leaving the pubs."

But PC Fitzhugh is concerned that some party-goers may overdo it now that they have a longer time at the bar.

"I would urge people to be sensible," he warned.

But for those not planning a big night out, there is some chance of respite from all the revelry.

Residents who are likely to be affected by the noise created by the deregulation at pubs and clubs have the right to contact the local authority to seek restrictions on any potential trouble spots.

Karen Waugh, owner of Kennedy's, in Little Stonegate, said she did not think she would be serving past 1am.

"It is nice to have the option," she said. "But most people do not want to drink all night anyway. Hopefully, they could use this night as a trial and then bring this in seven days a week for next year."

Updated: 11:25 Saturday, December 08, 2001