People who ask for donations for ‘Sober for October’ or Dry January

[SuperTrumper]

I have an uncle who drinks like a fish. He is doing Sober for October and every few days is reminding people on Facebook how much of a sacrifice he is making and can we please sponsor him, all proceeds to go to charity.

Aibu to get annoyed with people who give up a vice for a period of time and expect to be applauded for it? It’s hardly running a marathon? And if it is such a real struggle that deserves applause then surely give it up for good and get help?
If you want to raise money for charity, then surely put aside all money you would spend per week on alcohol and then write a cheque at the end of the month for the amount you save?

I'm with Susan. I do give as you earn through work to 5 charities. I'll put a couple of pounds in a bucket collection but certainly not sponsor someone's hobby or holiday.

I'm doing stoptober too, but nobody knows. I'll pop the money saved from my weekly wine into the next good cause bucket I see.

How bizarre! Pretty much everyone I know is doing Sober October, and nobody has asked for donations or sponsorship. I just assumed we were all giving money we hadn't spent to charity or in the Shoe Fund

I have never come across this. Maybe you have some CF friends OP?

No, it's ridiculous. I'm not sponsoring someone to give up something I'm vehemently against anyway.

If you struggle to go without alcohol for a few weeks, you have a problem.

The people I know who do it ask for sponsorship.

Who cares? It's for charity, people do allsorts of crap with the end result of raising money for charity.

Don't sponser if you don't like. Simple.

This came up on another forum I frequent, with someone saying they needed 'shaming' into doing it. I don't see why people feel the need to tell everyone they're doing it like it's a massive charitable thing they want kudos for. Do it and donate whatever you save to charity without wanting everyone to tell you how great you are.

I haven't drunk alochol for over 10 years (no addiction issues, don't like the taste, effect or cost ), I could have raised so much money by now if I knew.

I agree, they should be donating what they save on buying the alcohol not asking for sponsorship.

Its aimed as a challenge so the people doing it will either drink a lot or find it a hardship to do so maybe getting help rather than sponsorship would be better.

Buy them a bottle of booze

Yeah I'm finding this annoying now I've given up alcohol recently and have been going to AA. Fair play to everyone that can stop randomly for a month and then happily go back to it but don't go asking for money and a pat on the back! Or do, since it's absolutely not my business and I'm just having a little gripe 😂

But is he actually giving up the booze?

The last one I had like this came back for his money after the 6 week period (I don't pay up until whatever the "challenge" is has been completed) and said he hadn't actually done it, "but I could give him the money anyway if I wanted"

I didn't "want" [hmm[

YANBU. It's pathetic that not drinking alcohol for a month is a challenge for some people.

People are always whining for sponsorship money these days. It's probably got a bit to do with 'austerity' meaning that more charities need more support, and then social media means that every attention seeker you ever met can clutter up your timeline with announcements of whatever pointless crap they are doing 'for charity' this week.

DS and I do one walk a year (I have gently dissuaded him from doing more than that because I think people just get tired of being asked for money.)

I will happily sponsor someone doing a walk or run but not to not drink alcohol for x amount of time.

One of my friends, who as far as I know, doesn't drink that much gave up for a month earlier in the year. Literally every day she would post on facebook "Oh another day without a drink" as though it was some big achievement and almost begging people to sponsor her. Needless to say I didn't.

I don't really drink much but I stopped for almost a year to see if alcohol had any connection to my migraines (it didn't). To hear some peoples' comments you would think I was doing something heroic. "Oh you are so brave" and "I would rather kill myself than stop drinking" were just 2 inane comments I received

"Today 11:56 FenceSitter01

Any one who has to make a conscious effort to not drink or smoke has an addiction problem and should seek the appropriate avenues for help in overcoming those problems."

I'm sorry but I can't stop laughing at this post. You can't seriously think that?! 😂😭😭

Anyway re the donations I think it's just an excuse to donate isn't it? Lots of people like to donate to charity and don't mind being asked

Mostinept well done for recognising you have a problem & for doing something about it 🌷 I'd like to say something reassuring or encouraging, but everything sounds so bloody patronising or ridiculous. Sorry. Whatever you need to hear right now - just assume I'm saying it! 😁💐

As for me, Sober October or Dry January are not happening. If I had a problem I'd address it properly. I don't (well I do, I have many, just not this one!). I don't drink very much. However, I do have the type of personality that once something is forbidden I want it. BADLY. Even something I've never wanted before. If only I could use it to my advantage it would be great 'Right Annie, NO MORE RUNNING for you young lady, I forbid it'. Sadly I'm not quite stupid enough to fool myself 🤣

I don't sponsor trips across the globe either. You're basically funding someone's expensive holiday with a veneer of social conscience applied. I can just donate directly to a charity working in the relevant area if I want to show support.

It grinds my gears tearing people moan about how hard it is. I last had a drink 5 weeks ago and probably will have some at the end of this month as I’m away overnight. I can take it or leave it and don’t actually care if I have it or not. Do some people really NEED to drink every weekend?

Yanbu

I never would have thought of this as a sponsorable thing!

Perhaps it's their only way to motivate themselves though?

Lots of people go to the pub at the weekend to socialise. It's really, really common. That's how they catch up with friends. They enjoy it. It's really, really normal. Having 4 weeks where they sit there nursing a coke for 6 hours is a bit of a challenge.

mydogisthebest. I did that too, for a different health issue & for two years. I don't know if it helped or not because it wasn't measurable but giving up alcohol to give my body the best chance at recovery was more important than a few drinks now & then. Funny though, people assumed alcohol had caused my ill health when I explained why I wasn't currently drinking. It didn't at all, but I'm sure some people still don't believe that. It was VIRAL ffs. 😂 Idiots.

I can take it or leave it and don’t actually care if I have it or not. Do some people really NEED to drink every weekend?

Well yes, they do. Just as some people struggle to lose weight or stop eating unhealthy food and others struggle to stop smoking. Or any other habit. I don't find it difficult to not drink either, but I've found it a real challenge giving up bread for Lent before, why is this any different?

Having 4 weeks where they sit there nursing a coke for 6 hours is a bit of a challenge.

How sad.

It's not sad at all.

I don't usually sponsor anyone for anything, unless it really is something impressive. Often you seem to be sponsoring them for doing their hobby (or not in this case). Surely in these dry challenges, it's the person not drinking who should give the money saved to an appropriate charity.