A man who fell from the balcony of a sailing club while attempting a handstand is suing for damages, arguing he should not have been allowed there because he was heavily intoxicated.

Simon Cucuk, 25, suffered head, back and brain injuries when he fell from the balcony of Grange Sailing Club in Adelaide during a birthday party in September 2008.

In District Court documents, Mr Cucuk says he had been drinking for seven hours before the party and club staff breached their duty of care by serving him more alcohol.

He claims there were not enough staff on duty to supervise the partygoers and nobody prevented him from going onto the balcony.

Mr Cucuk also claims the club had a duty of care to ensure those who might become intoxicated were not at risk of injury due to the state of the premises.

He is arguing the club failed to ensure the balustrade "was of a sufficient height to prevent a person falling".

He says as well as physical injuries, he still suffers from depression, poor memory, loss of his sense of smell and the loss of movement in the right side of his face.

In its defence, the Grange club denies staff kept serving the man.

"Alcohol was not provided to intoxicated guests," it said.

It argued the balcony met national safety standards and Mr Cucuk should have known attempting handstands on the railing presented a risk of injury.

"The plaintiff voluntarily assumed the risk of falling from the balcony," the club argued.

"It would have been obvious to a reasonable person in his position that standing on the balcony railing and/or attempting handstands presented a risk of injury."

The club argued Mr Cucuk was not entitled to any damages.

It said the claim should be dismissed and it should be awarded costs.