To not sponsor Dry January?

[InMemoryOfSleep]

A few of my friends have sent me links to sponsor them for doing Dry January, but I really don’t want to pay out cash I haven’t got for this. I just feel that if you need to be sponsored to give up alcohol for a single month, and you find it as difficult as they are purporting to, then you have a problem! Am just ignoring the emails for now, but am due to meet up with one of them next week; should I just plead poverty?

YANBU about the sponsorship. I don't sponsor anyone to do anything. But saying "ooh if it's hard to not drink for a month you have a problem" is really snotty.
Millions of people in the UK drink too much. You know that right?? Experimenting with stopping for a while is a good thing and yes, it's beneficial for the person doing it. And? Surely someone benefitting their health, both physical and mental is just generally good all round?
It's interesting that it's only when someone stops taking an addictive drug that they are assumed to have a problem with it though.
And this is just laughable:
I am not doing Dry January but I haven't drank any alcohol since New Year's day (and that was one glass of prosecco and a G&T at my parents NYD dinner party)
Um, yeah, that's because you don't really like alchohol that much, do you? I haven't had a single piece of coffee cake since last year, and I haven't even thought about it . I hate coffee cake
Go me.

The way I handle all sponsorship requests is not to get into an individual discussion about it. This way no offence need be caused.

These requests tend to be blanket mailshots sent to loads of people either at work or social circles, rarely targeting individuals, so it's easy to duck for cover and wait until the coast is clear

I recently made an exception because a guy at work had a small sign on his desk about a sponsored distance bike ride for Help for Heroes. He used to be in the Army before joining civie-Street, so it was something he was passionate about. I asked for his Just Giving link and gave money for that cause. I really liked his low key non-CF approach, and he ended up raising £000 for the cause.

@IfNot totally agree that it’s beneficial to have a break from drinking, just not sure it’s worthy of being sponsored! My exact point is that, as you point out, millions of people in the UK drink too much - getting sponsored for something like Dry January is normalising this drinking culture, making it seem like a normal thing to struggle to not drink for a month. It’s not normal.

Are they using the proceeds for rehab? 🤔

I don't drink, dont like the stuff. Can I be sponsored?

Ridiculous.

Personally I don't sponsor Race for Life or things like that, but have a lot of sympathy for Dry January. All but the laziest person of average-to-poor health is capable of walking 5km. 31 days off the booze is a real challenge though, and I applaud those who try.

I think putting up a Facebook or similar post asking for sponsorship if possible then fine. Maybe even a polite direct email/ message.

Making your life in any way uncomfortable, sending repeated messages etc not ok.

I'm doing dry January just to give my liver/body a rest after the copious amounts I drank over Christmas and New year,wouldn't cross my mind to get sponsored for it,I've only told one or two people I'm doing it!

Pretty annoying if this sort of thing is asking for sponsorship. They can just give all the money to charity which they save from not buying booze - that would be nicely motivating for them.

I won't sponsor for Dry January either.

If someone has a problem, it's not appropriate to turn that into a money making experience whatever the cause, as after a month they will still have a problem and they need help. They need genuine help and support, not money for a charity.

If you're like me and find it no work whatsoever to not drink for a month, then what's the point?! It's not like the lady above who shaved her head for charity, that's actually doing something and good on you, I hope you raised loads for the hospice.

I think it would be much better if people pledged to donate the money they saved to charity. Then you're really doing it for something AND not imposing on other people!! So many people do Dry Jan now, we'd all be sponsoring each other!!