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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to ask for sponsorship for giving up alcohol for a year?

84 replies

LoopyLou1981 · 28/03/2018 10:02

Not from Mumsnet, in RL.

I’m trying to work out whether it’s a sponsorable ‘thing’ or whether it’s a bit of a crap idea.

I like a drink (and probably drink a bit too much). My job is quite social and includes lunches and nights out so this would be a massive change for me.

I want to do it to feel healthier but feel like sponsorship would keep me on track and it can’t hurt if I can do something for a good cause along the way??x

OP posts:
YoucancallmeVal · 28/03/2018 10:03

You would be very unreasonable. Just don't drink.

Nicknacky · 28/03/2018 10:04

I wouldn’t sponsor you. It’s a personal decision that only benefits you. And everyone could do it if they wanted to.

Just give up drinking without making a song and dance about it.

upsideup · 28/03/2018 10:06

Yes you would be very unreasonable.
If you dont want to drink, dont but nobody else is going to care if you do or not.
Its like asking someone to sponsor you being vegetarian for a year

Assburgers · 28/03/2018 10:06

Just save up the money you would normally spend on drink.

Weird to ask people to pay you to do something lots of people already do.

Isadora2007 · 28/03/2018 10:07

Yes you would be unreasonable. Why are you trying to make other people responsible for your life choices and how are they even meant to police it?
If you recognise you have a bad relationship with alcohol you have to want to change it for you and no one else.

Lilonetwo · 28/03/2018 10:07

By sponsor, do you mean you will donate the money to charity? Or keep it to help you stop drinking?

midnightmisssuki · 28/03/2018 10:08

sorry - you want to stop drinking but you want people to pay you to stop? Am i missing something here?

Original poster
LoopyLou1981 · 28/03/2018 10:10

I mean donate to a charity. I’m not looking for payment for me not drinking!

OP posts:
FleurDelacoeur · 28/03/2018 10:12

I wouldn't sponsor you if you were my friend. Yes if you were running the marathon or bungee jumping or something to raise money for cancer, not because you're stopping doing something which lots of people don't do anyway.

Sponsor me for not eating beef?

Nicknacky · 28/03/2018 10:12

Just donate money to the charity yourself.

punchyKate · 28/03/2018 10:12

Why would someone pay a charity for you to stop drinking?

I don't care if you drink or not.

KalaLaka · 28/03/2018 10:13

I agree with pp: give the money you'd spend on drinking to charity if you want to have some external motivation. You're doing it for yourself, so I wouldn't ask for sponsorship.

liz70 · 28/03/2018 10:13

How would you prove it, though?

Original poster
LoopyLou1981 · 28/03/2018 10:14

Completely happy to be shot down here but surely anything done for sponsorship is something ‘anyone could do’. Lots of people run or walk every day but lots of people also ask for sponsorship do to those things as well?
I’m not asking anyone to police it. I’m hardly going to cheat on something for charity! 😂

OP posts:
duckponds · 28/03/2018 10:16

Has no one on this thread heard of DryJanuary?! Bizarre how you all think it such an odd concept to sponsor someone. I do not think it's an unreasonable question, you are doing something to benefit yourself yes, but what's the harm in benefitting others at the same time. Good on you OP

Nicknacky · 28/03/2018 10:18

Not having a drink is easy. Everyone can do it.

Not everyone could climb a mountain or run a marathon as they are strenuous, time consuming physical challenges.

Not having a Pinot with dinner isn’t the same.

ButchyRestingFace · 28/03/2018 10:19

I think the suggestion that you sponsor yourself is a good one, OP - give the money you’d otherwise spend on drink to charity.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 28/03/2018 10:19

I wouldn't sponsor you. I would it a bit lazy frankly.

I get when people try anything to raise money for a specific cause - like a sick child, and don't just ask for money to pay for medical treatments but try to climb mountains, run marathons, just get out of their confort zone to try to do something.
If you had a person in mind, or a cause for personal reason, I might try to help, but sponsorship just to motivate you not to drink..no, sorry.

You might as well ask for sponsorship for painting your living room or not wear make-up for a year.

JamieVardysHavingAParty · 28/03/2018 10:22

I've sponsored people to do dry periods before.

TBH, I'd rather sponsor someone to give up alcohol than sponsor them to climb a mountain they've always wanted to climb.

Ebeneser · 28/03/2018 10:23

I did the "Go Sober for October" www.gosober.org.uk/ a few years ago. I did it because my dad died of cancer and the Macmillan Nurses were fantastic with him.
I didn't get a huge amount of sponsorship though, but then I only posted it for family and friends to see, and I didn't pester people.
Nothing to stop you finding a worthy cause and asking people to sponsor you, but I doubt you would get much, especially for a year. Not unless you were quite pushy about it, and/or keep posting it publicly. Your family/friends might tire of it after a while.

FleurDelacoeur · 28/03/2018 10:24

Has no one on this thread heard of DryJanuary?!

I know lots of people who choose to stop drinking in January. A friend stopped drinking three Januarys ago and hasn't started again since.

Difference is, he;s not asking people to pay him to do it.

liz70 · 28/03/2018 10:24

"I’m not asking anyone to police it. I’m hardly going to cheat on something for charity! 😂"

Not the point. When people do runs, bike rides, swims etc. for charity they have people watching and following them in vehicles etc. so they can verify that they really have performed the sponsored task. There's no way of doing that with your idea.

And plenty of people defraud charities. Just because you're honest, doesn't mean everyone is.

Far better to save up all the cash you'd have spent on booze and donate it at the end of the year.

TERFragetteCity · 28/03/2018 10:24

Lol.

Why not so sponsor yourself, set up a challenge to give all the money you would have spent to charity...you could blog it adding to the total for each drink you would have spent...and then actually give your own cash away.

But asking other people to sponsor you is cheeky fuckery.

BarbaraofSevillle · 28/03/2018 10:24

I have heard of dry January and other similar events and yes I do think it is an odd concept to sponsor someone in these circumstances. This sort of thing has got a little out of hand.

If the OP wants a charity to benefit from her not drinking, she should just donate whatever she doesn't spend on alcohol to a charity and not guilt others into donating.

LoopyLoo92 · 28/03/2018 10:24

I wouldn't sponsor you. A friend wanted sponsorship for being dry for a month....It's stupid.

Maybe its because I don't drink I don't know. I also gave up sugar in tea....didnt ask anyone to sponsor me I just did it.

Do 3 peaks challange. Climb Everest. Do 10K for cancer research. Do a marathon. Then I will sponsor you (in RL not MN)....but not just for giving up drinking.