The Home Office has published a consultation document today recommending extended hours for licensed premises for the national celebrations of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The official celebrations will take place on 3 June 2002, celebrating 50 years to the day of the Queen's accession to the throne, and the Home Office has shunned the option of 24 hour opening in favour of recommending extended licensing hours. Last orders will be extended from 11pm to 1am after Buckingham Palace raised concerns at fears that keeping pubs open round the clock could turn the celebrations sour with excessive public drunkeness. Home Office Minister, Mike O'Brien, says the extended hours will still give people the opportunity to revel in the festivities: The national celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee next year, and in particular on the 3 and 4 of June, will be enjoyed in lots of different ways. No doubt some people will want to continue their celebrations at commercial events held in licensed premises and we want to give them the opportunity to do just that. The extension has been met with criticism from parts of the industry, which wanted longer extensions. Mark Hastings of the British Brewers Licensing Association said: It is a curiously British attitude which says 'enjoy yourselves, but do not enjoy yourself too much'. It basically says that the authorities cannot trust the people.