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Original poster

To think go sober for October doesn't help Cancer

48 replies

Mumcouchtotri · 29/09/2016 07:39

Isn't it just like dry January or no drinking September and people go all month not drinking and thinking about drink.

Then come the next month they binge and probably do their body more damage.

Long term changes is what is needed, not this quick fix crash diet stuff IMO.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 29/09/2016 07:42

Habits form in three weeks so it helps people to reduce and stop drinking.

You don't have to take part and it sounds like it's not the time for you to so so.

WellyWanga · 29/09/2016 07:45

but how does it help cancer? ivy

Original poster
Mumcouchtotri · 29/09/2016 07:46

Oh in defo not doing it. But im one of thebfew in my team not doing it. They ate already planning a big night out before its even started..

The habits will very quickly be unformed IMO.

I've given them a fiver as it goes to a good cause, but still don't really agree with the activity.

OP posts:
GrumpyOldBag · 29/09/2016 07:47

Drinking is one of the many lifestyle things that increases your chance of cancer.

If you give up drinking for a month you can learn to modify your behaviour and the hope is that you will continue the positive behaviour and drink less going forwards.

Give up for a month and then binge drink the next month isn't going to help, no. But I don't think most people would do that.

Original poster
Mumcouchtotri · 29/09/2016 07:47

...on train on omible standing. Many typos!

OP posts:
DramaInPyjamas · 29/09/2016 07:48

It's just something to document and brag on about on social media in my opinion.

OreoCat · 29/09/2016 07:48

I've seen people on my FB getting sponsored for it Hmm Forgive me for thinking not having an alcoholic drink all month is sponsor worthy.

Lots of cancers are related to alcohol though, similar to smoking, so I can see how they made the connection.

A good way to do it would be for people to donate the money they would have spent on alcohol to cancer research (maybe that what they tell people to do I don't know!)

myownprivateidaho · 29/09/2016 07:50

I feel naturally slightly squeamish about these headline grabbing charity drives. I think for me it's something about the way they capitalise on making people feel like they are part of a 'battle' (against an anthropomorphised disease, for example) -- it somehow seems to trivialise the issues involved. However, big charities are very sophisticated in their fundraising, and so I can only presume that the reason that they push stuff like the ice bucket challenge, Movember, etc is that they work in raising money.

neonrainbow · 29/09/2016 07:50

If you need to be sponsored not to drink them you have a drinking problem. If the person doing it at my work was doing it over December and january ie party season i might think about giving her a fiver but she'd never do it anyway.

ReallyTired · 29/09/2016 07:52

If you give the money that you would have spent on drink to cancer research then it would definitely help to fight cancer. Even pennies help cancer research. If I went sober in October I doubt that I would save much money as I hardly ever drink. However even the cost of one drink is better than nothing.

Whether being teetotal for a month makes a difference to your health depends on what your drinking habits are.

Original poster
Mumcouchtotri · 29/09/2016 07:53

A good way to do it would be for people to donate the money they would have spent on alcohol to cancer research (maybe that what they tell people to do I don't know!)

That's a great idea! I wish they would do that instead.

OP posts:
myownprivateidaho · 29/09/2016 07:56

What bothers me is when health charities link up with big food/drink businesses -- coke and mcdonalds spring to mind. I noticed this especially in America where I think all diet coke cans have a sticker about breast cancer on them. On the one hand, I presume each can sold represents a donation to the charity. But on the other hand, at a population level, if people consumed less sugary/sweetened foods and more fruit and vegetables etc, public health would be hugely improved, and (I think) this would decrease the cancer rate too. And the charities know this, so it's like the charity will not take on the businesses that drive public unhealthiness but instead accept the second best solution of having the business make a donation to help partially alleviate the situation that they, basically, have created. I mean, I guess charities know that they are not going to be able to stop people drinking coke. But it just seems wrong to put a sticker about fighting cancer on a drink like that (and I say this as a diet coke addict). idk this is prob derailing but it bothers me!

moreslackthanslick · 29/09/2016 08:06

I do dry January and just do a donation of what I would have spent on alcohol without annoying my friends on social media. I also pick my own charities rather than whatever one is jumping on the bandwagon. I'm off on an all inclusive next week so no chance for October.

idaho I noticed tickled pink stuff all over my local Asda the other day as well as tickled pink branded multi packs of Coca Cola cans.

Sendraboots · 29/09/2016 08:08

I thought the idea was to donate all booze money to the charity

danTDM · 29/09/2016 08:09

I really don't understand this attitude.

Surely ANY money or ANY awareness afor cancer whether for people you perceive with a drinking problem Hmm or not, is a good thing?

Alcohol consumption is crazy in the UK and I think it's a good thing to give up for a month.

Don't join in if it offends you. Simple.

moreslackthanslick · 29/09/2016 08:12

I'm sure that most adults in the UK are aware of cancer?
Some social media campaign where someone is giving up booze for a month isn't going to make people suddenly more aware is it?

The idea isn't generally to donate all your booze money to charity, it's to post links to just giving pages and get your friends to sponsor you. I've seen numerous ones already.

LittleLionMansMummy · 29/09/2016 08:17

I think the people who are willing and able to do it are not the people at risk of developing alcohol related disease tbh. But lots of people enjoy a drink sensibly and stay within recommended limits, and there's no harm in highlighting awareness and raising money at the same time - even if the people participating will actually benefit very little in terms of their health.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 29/09/2016 08:18

Habits form in three weeks so it helps people to reduce and stop drinking.

Not necessarily. A habit that is easy to form, such as eating a Danish pastry every day for elevenses, sticks faster than a habit that is difficult or unpleasant, such as doing regular exercise.

Alcohol consumption is a leading risk factor in cancer so my view of the campaign is that it will link the two more strongly in people's minds.

Rachcakes · 29/09/2016 08:20

I think it helps cancer because it raises money for research.
I'm just nearing the end of Dryathlon. I haven't raised megabucks because I've not pushed it, but for me, I realised my drinking was creeping up, something had to change, and if I could raise a few quid for a good cause in the process, it's win all round.
I asked people to put in the price of a drink, if they wanted to. Mum and DH put in more but quite a few have donated a fiver, and each pound goes a little way towards research.
It's a personal challenge for the greater good, not a direct link. I doubt I've changed my own cancer risk (although I have lost half a stone).

OnionKnight · 29/09/2016 08:21

I'm dong dry September but I felt weird about being sponsored to basically not have any alcohol so I've not asked for any.

MargotsDevil · 29/09/2016 08:22

I donate frequently to friends doing race for life/(half) marathons/abseiling down large buildings and a variety of other sponsored challenges but I don't and won't sponsor anyone for not drinking for a month. I know dozens who have done it and without exception the end of the month was marked by a huge binge followed by a return to normal drinking habits. I just don't see it as a sponsor worthy thing and would echo those who have said that if it's such a big deal to go a month without a drink then you need to reassess your normal drinking habits. I don't think that the publicity is really doing anything to permanently change drinking or public health.

Sparklesilverglitter · 29/09/2016 08:22

To me any money raised to support treatment in to cancer is a good thing and if this dry October things makes a few people think about how much they drink then what's wrong with that.

Fair enough you don't like the idea and that's fine just don't take part

Eatthecake · 29/09/2016 08:25

I don't really mind how they raise money to support research etc in to cancer, it can only be a good thing. If the dry October even makes a few people think a bit more about how much they drink and it's connection to cancer then that's a bonus.

Just don't take part of you don't agree with it

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 29/09/2016 08:27

Surely ANY money or ANY awareness afor cancer whether for people you perceive with a drinking problem or not, is a good thing?

But how many of the people who take part in these awareness things even mention cancer in any sort of detail?

I usually see 'I'm doing XYZ for cancer awareness and nominate ABC to do it too' that's it. No links to pages with possible signs and symptoms of cancer. No reminder to check your breasts and balls etc. No reminder that any moles need to be checked if they change shape or size etc etc.

That's the sort of awareness that can really help, not just reminding people that cancer simply exists. We all know that already.

Eatthecake · 29/09/2016 08:28

It says on the go sober for October website so far£706,000 has been raised how can that be fantastic for a cancer charity?