THE borough council has refused to back down on an alcohol ban slapped on Wine and Whinge events at council properties.The ban was introduced in August and prevented the Rural North Tenants and Residents Association (RNTRA) serving wine at events it was running to provide council tenants with the chance to raise concerns.

THE borough council has refused to back down on an alcohol ban slapped on Wine and Whinge events at council properties.

The ban was introduced in August and prevented the Rural North Tenants and Residents Association (RNTRA) serving wine at events it was running to provide council tenants with the chance to raise concerns.

RNTRA chairman Peter Kirkpatrick said the council had refused to lift the ban despite his pleas, so it will have to continue serving non-alcoholic fruit drinks at next summer's events.

He has been serving the non-alcoholic drinks but has kept the “Wine and Whinge” on banners and adverts as his organisation had spent �500 advertising the events.

Residents at council-owned properties in Repps Road, Martham were able to enjoy one final glass of non-alcoholic wine on Tuesday at the last Wine and Whinge before it packed up for the winter.

Mr Kirkpatrick said: “The council allowed us to do four Wine and Whinge events before imposing the ban. I feel like we are being victimised.”

Denis Gilbert, director of community housing at the borough council, said the authority had decided to ban alcohol at all its properties following a legal case in which a company was sued after one of its employees was involved in a drink driving case after drinking on its premises.

He added alcohol was not served at events involving council staff so the decision was taken not to serve it on council property at all.

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