Go sober for October

[Soubriquet]

Isn’t it amazing?

People who are teetotal or don’t drink often get slated as its “not fun to not drink”

Yet, do it for one month in the name of charity and look! It’s amazing. Wow. You’re so strong

I agree. Whilst I appreciate that money is raised through this, quite frankly if someone can't avoid alcohol for a month, then they've got a problem.

Yeah, the whole let's pretend I'm an alcoholic and quit for a whole month does my head in!

I don't really think it's anything to be applauded and I would never pay anyone to not have a drink.

It is beneficial to their health and I just wouldn't give anyone money to do it.

I give to charity a lot due to various family issues, but I see this 'challenge' akin to those 'pay for me to do something I love' i.e. cycling across France, parachute jumps etc.

I've never got this. I drink in moderation. If I slide into drinking too much I cut right down. These grand gestures, what is the point?

It's virtue signalling.

I come from a long line of alcoholics and it was a bit of a blight on my childhood so I find it hard to enter into the spirit and cheer someone on when they're wanking on about "omg no Prosecco for a WHOLE MONTH" or whatever. I know that's my issue not theirs though and they're probably just trying to do a nice thing by raising funds for charity.

I think a lot of this charity stuff if bullshit now, and more about the person wanting a bit of glory/Insta pic.

I think the whole concept of giving something up temporarily is pretty flawed. If it's something you're better off without, what's the point of ditching it for a month and then going back to your old habits? And if it's something that's not a problem, why give it up at all? Same with Lent.

My parents are alcoholics. They always have an excuse to have a drink. Made worse now as they run a social club

My sister is the same

I don’t drink. I’m boring apparently.

Whenever I go out and I order a soft drink, it’s always “oh go on! Have a proper drink!”

Someone I know always does stuff like this and expects lots of praise and money. They were expecting donations for going vegetarian for a month not long ago - not vegan, just vegetarian which I really didn’t think was that difficult .

On the plus side, someone might realise how much better they feel not drinking and make a big lifestyle change for the better after the month is up.
I’d never sponsor anyone to do it though. They’d have to at least attempt a half marathon at the beginning of Nov as well

I think a lot of this charity stuff if bullshit now, and more about the person wanting a bit of glory/Insta pic.

I agree. I have a family member who did 6 charity events last year and expects everyone to cough up money for it every time. I’ve stopped donating because I think it’s taking the piss now - I donate to charities I choose.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a drink. Not through the week, but definitely of a weekend and I bloody enjoy it.

I would not expect anybody to sponsor me for having a few weekends off.

I hate stuff like this. I'm actually trying to cut down my alcohol intake at the moment for my own reasons and I'm dreading someone asking if I'm doing it for sober October.

I know some people who have donated what they would have spent on booze - which seems like a good idea...

And then they do a selfie with, "yey, I did without my cheeky prosecco and donated £23.50"
Oh, do fuck off.

Why do you need to say 'I bloody enjoy it'?

Surely someone who doesn't have a problem wouldn't need to give up alcohol for a month or even think about doing that, no matter how often they drink? So this whole stop for a month to prove you dont have a problem thing is silly really

DH and I have given up alcohol for September - because we realised that we'd had a drink pretty much every day in the (school) summer holiday - whether that was a small beer, or a G&T followed by wine with dinner - never to excess, but just steady, habitual drinking.

I wouldn't dream of asking someone else to sponsor me to do so, but I do think that many people are guilty of drinking without realising quite how much they are drinking and how much damage it can do. I'm feeling so much better for not having had a drink for 2 weeks, although I can't imagine going totally teetotal, it's definitely made me think about my habits and consumption - so perhaps sober October does help people to re-evaluate their habits. (I haven't put anything anywhere on social media, and I'm not planning on doing so either!).

I don't think Lent is the same. If it is, then so is Ramadan etc too.

Lent/Ramadan etc is about going without, and giving saved money to charity, amongst other stuff of course. And it's not about giving up something you that it is beneficial to give up..

This sober October shite is about getting others to pay for you to stop drinking- I bet if any of these people were asked to give the money saved by not drinking they wouldn't be so keen. even 3 bottles of wine a week, plus drinks at the weekend would be £30-£50 -ish. So four weeks would be £200 out of their own pockets.

But yes. I hate all the giggly "ooh it's going to be so hard". If it's that hard you're a fucking alcoholic mate. Plus the manipulation of dates- well I've got a big night on the 4th and then a 30th on the 6th so I'll start on the 8th..Then I'll have a wedding on the 20th so I'll do a day extra at the end..

This misapprehension that it is impossible to have fun without alcohol. The assumption that non drinkers are fucking boring and bring the whole evening down. Such a buzzkill.

I don't drink. I've stopped socialising a lot, not because I can't without alcohol, but because of all the arseholes who tell me I can't possibly be enjoying myself and I'm going to ruin their night. Then there's the ones who "mishear" and get you a vodka and coke instead of a coke, then pressure you not to offend when they've bought you a drink.

It’s yet another example of how normalised and ingrained alcohol is in our society that this is so mainstream, seen as a big deal, and that there’s a sacrifice involved in “giving up”.

I say this as someone who has struggled with drinking for a long time btw so not as a teetotaller

I'd have no problem with it if it were like a month I do every year for a local charity - you give something up for Lent, and give the money you would have spent on it to the charity. And then if you 'cheat', you have to price-match to the charity.

But sponsor someone else for giving up alcohol for a month? Why? It's not hard is it? If I'm going to sponsor someone, they've got to DO something.

I hate the advert that implies that we are all alcoholics and it's a huge deal to go sober.

YANBU OP.

Don't drink or drink little = boring
Don't drink for October = legend amongst humankind

It shouldn't be a thing to have to give up. It's no hardship and if it is, then the person really has a problem.

It's just so gimmicky and it's sad because it overshadows the real message behind it. Can't people just fundraise for cancer because cancer is very shit?

What's next? No French Fry July oh yes sponsor me please whilst I abstain from my first world non essential items.

Whilst I find the whole Sober October thing uncomfortable, I suppose realistically I would rather see people do it to raise the money than not raise the money at all. But it just rub me up the wrong way as you can probably tell.

Maybe if it upsets you it's because it's not aimed at you? I think I probably drink too much. It's too regular and I definitely could do with losing some weight. I'm not an alcoholic, but I like a drink.

The ads have made me think about making it a goal, so I'm going to do it. I won't be asking anyone to donate but I'll be making a donation. I'm hoping to break a habit.

If you don't drink it's not aimed at you, so why let it annoy you.