At least they will be spared the mother of all hangovers.

Thousands of festive revellers will be without their Christmas party this year after Glasgow's licensing board refused to grant permission to serve alcohol because it breached the city's binge drinking policy.

An estimated 4000 corporate clients, reportedly including a party from the city's procurator-fiscal's office, had paid £60 a head for the "drink-all-you-want" events scheduled for this weekend and next in marquees erected on both Glasgow Green and in Kelvingrove Park.

Unfortunately, the organisers, Cumbernauld-based firms Braveheart Banqueting and Caterline, had already advertised the medieval, seventies and New York-themed parties and sold tickets before checking if the city's liquor chiefs would grant them a licence.

The local authority's licensing committee, an entirely separate entity which, unlike the board, falls under the auspices of the city council and has no remit over alcohol, had already approved the parties.

But when board members saw the "£60 drink-all-you-want" advertising there were immediate concerns the bashes would breach the city's policy on irresponsible promotions, in operation now for some four years.

Nevertheless, Braveheart and Caterline, which ran similar parties last year, were granted liquor licences for events in the marquees last weekend but with strict conditions attached. Rather than an alcohol free-for-all, each customer would be given six vouchers to exchange for alcohol. The following four Caterline events in Kelvingrove and two Braveheart parties in Glasgow Green would be dependent on how these panned out.

Strathclyde Police and the council's own enforcement officials attended to monitor proceedings. But, with vouchers being sold to customers for a penny or 10 for £10, followed by a £10 refund, reports filtering back to the board were critical. One source described the scene at one party as "Babylonian".

On Wednesday both firms were called to a meeting with board officials and told the remaining events would not be given liquor licences.

A board spokeswoman said:"The organisers sold tickets before they had applied for occasional licences never mind been granted any.

"A decision was made to grant licences for last weekend only because the board has huge concerns about possible breaches of the policies on irresponsible promotion of alcohol. Reports were received from the enforcement officers that there had been continuous breaches of the conditions of both licences and so a decision was made not to grant further licences."

Last night, Braveheart Banqueting insisted their remaining two parties would go ahead - booze-free. Company official Stephen Gault said:"It'll still go ahead, the only difference being there will be a soft bar. We will refund part of the ticket cost because there will be no alcohol and will run a free event next year."

No-one from Caterline was available for comment yesterday, but a notice on the company's website said:"Due to a decision by the council licensing board we have no other alternative but to cancel the remaining dates for our Manhattan Xmas Party Nights. We would like to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."