councillors have voted to abandon their boozy get-togethers on the rates following a secret debate.

Earlier this year Dartmouth town councillors agreed to pay for their own civic dinners rather than stick taxpayers with an annual bill which came to around £1,500.

Now they have decided to give up knocking back free booze from the mayor's drinks cabinet during their 'networking' get- togethers after council meetings.

Instead they have decided to put an honesty box in the mayor's parlour in their Dartmouth Guildhall headquarters – and shell out the going rate for the beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and water the council's booze cabinet contains.

The move follows criticisms of the council practice of handing out free drinks during councillors' get-togethers following their regular meetings.

The councillors decided to discuss the council drinks culture but only behind closed doors with both the press and public excluded.

But after the meeting deputy mayor Dave Cawley revealed the decision was made to set up the honesty box and councillors will be expected to pay a realistic price for their drinks from now on.

Unfortunately the box was not in place in time for the get-together which went ahead in the mayor's parlour almost immediately after the decision was made on Monday.

'We weren't able to do it then because a lot of the councillors did not have any money with them because we were not expecting to have to bring any,' said Cllr Cawley.

'We did have a drink but suggested that everyone bring along twice as much [money] next time.'

Cllr Cawley said that not a single councillor had objected to the new rules which will mean they will no longer be drinking at the taxpayers' expense.

'There was a general sigh of relief that they can go and have a drink without being made to feel guilty about it,' he added.

The town council shells out around £200 a year to keep the drinks cabinet stocked, revealed Cllr Cawley.

From now on the money from the honesty box will be used to pay for the replenishment of the drinks cabinet.

Any money that is left over will go to the town mayor's 'cheers fund' which finances Christmas gifts for care homes in the town.

Earlier this year the town council refused to give up its civic dinner tradition but agreed that next year everyone who tucks into their three-course meal will have to pay for it themselves – along with any wine they drink.

In the past dozens of councillors and VIP guests have eaten and drunk for nothing while the taxpayers have picked up the bill.

Cllr Cawley said that the culture of councillors getting free drinks on the town's taxpayers after their meetings was now 'stone dead'.

He said it was important that councillors did get together to debate issues and to get to know one another.

But he said because of the criticisms the tradition of getting together and 'networking' after meetings had all but ceased.