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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Go Sober For October

26 replies

ohlookout · 29/09/2020 18:40

AIBU to think that those asking for sponsorship for Go Sober For October should at least donate the money that they will save throughout the month that they would usually have spent on alcohol? I have seen so many people ask for sponsorship for this but they never seem to donate their own money!

OP posts:
Leaannb · 29/09/2020 18:42

How do you know they don't donate?

DDiva · 29/09/2020 18:44

I'm doing it, for health reasons and to support a friend rather than a fundraising. I will donate the money I wont spend on wine......

Plussizejumpsuit · 29/09/2020 18:46

I can't fucking stand sponsored stuff. It's almost always about the person doing the thing. Rather than the cause. Also if you're drink so much it is any kind of hardship to give up alcohol for a month you need to look at your drinking.

Sorry for the rant! Had a family member die from alcohol abuse so this one particularly gets to me.

CitizenFame · 29/09/2020 20:09

YABVU. It’s none of your business and as someone else said, how do you know they don’t put their own donation in? If you feel that strongly about it then don’t donate to anyone doing this anymore. It’s not difficult.

Original poster
ohlookout · 30/09/2020 18:21

@Leaannb Because they've told me that they won't donate

OP posts:
IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 30/09/2020 18:44

People should want to stop drinking for their own health, not to get others money.

Also if you're drink so much it is any kind of hardship to give up alcohol for a month you need to look at your drinking

This ^

LolaSmiles · 30/09/2020 18:47

That's a good idea.

To be fair I don't sponsor anyone giving up alcohol for a few weeks. If giving up alcohol for a few weeks is a challenge then you've got a drink problem.

ViciousJackdaw · 30/09/2020 23:51

My birthday is in October. Therefore, Sober for October can fuck off. Sympathies to all Librans who like a drink and a ciggy too - Stoptober as well is just taking the piss.

Casmama · 01/10/2020 00:00

Just tell people you're doing "bender till December" so you need your money for that.

Doggybiccys · 01/10/2020 00:07

@Plussizejumpsuit

I can't fucking stand sponsored stuff. It's almost always about the person doing the thing. Rather than the cause. Also if you're drink so much it is any kind of hardship to give up alcohol for a month you need to look at your drinking.

Sorry for the rant! Had a family member die from alcohol abuse so this one particularly gets to me.

Me too! Every week it seems someone is looking for me to give them money for something they want to do. We have one friend who is constantly “raising money” by basically cycling all over bloody Europe- cycling being his passion. Another friend is trying to lose weight so wants sponsored to walk! I also got a text from a colleague with just a link to a just giving page - no explanation, please can you, thank you or anything. Does my head in.
JovialNickname · 01/10/2020 00:07

This time round you don't actually have to give up alcohol! You can just cut down a bit and still expect to be sponsored for your hardship, apparently.

(Like hell am I going to sponsor someone for throwing 4 pints a night down their neck instead of 8)

Doggybiccys · 01/10/2020 00:07

@Casmama Grin

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 01/10/2020 00:09

Isn't that the one where they keep advertising that you can just go 'a bit sober' if you prefer? So basically getting people to sponsor you for not having a drink when you don't particularly fancy one anyway?

"Fabulous, as promised to my sponsors, I've gone a full 8 hours without drinking any alcohol whatsoever; but now it's 7am, where's that bumper bottle of gin?!"

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 01/10/2020 00:09

x-posted with Jovial there!

Zeebeezee · 01/10/2020 00:13

They would probably get more money for Drinks in October. There is nothing else left to do lol!

So for every drink you have at home you contribute X, and there is no pain of denying yourself a bit of comfort in these dark days. If that's your thing.

I am not a Puritan at all, hate all this shite about being good and doing this or that, so there! Will always rebel.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 01/10/2020 00:15

I can't fucking stand sponsored stuff. It's almost always about the person doing the thing.

Yes - and it's invariably something that matters not the least to me. You drinking/not drinking; trekking/not trekking; skydiving/not skydiving? Doesn't do me any favours. How about you come and scrub my toilet, scour my oven, clean out my gutters and deal with all of the sticky bits in the back seat of my car, if you want to earn money from me on behalf of a charity?!

roarfeckingroarr · 01/10/2020 00:15

NOPE!!

Baby due in October. I've been sober for a very long time and I'm ready for a glass of wine!

BashfulClam · 01/10/2020 00:18

Yeah this one pisses me off. Surely it’s not that hard not to drink? Last drink I had was in May, next ibe will probably be Christmas I can take it it leave it. I grew up with a father who was a functioning alcoholic and don’t fancy going down the same road.

I remember a workmate coming in with her DH’s sponsor form for a running event and we all passed on it due to the fact we had never met the man. She was raging at us as we were obviously tight etc, at the time I was very very short of money and had to be careful with every penny.

WetdreamBeliever · 01/10/2020 00:20

I will be on a diet for October consisting of lobster, caviar, quail's eggs, venison, asparagus and champagne. Will anyone sponsor me?

LolaSmiles · 01/10/2020 06:46

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll
I think it is the same one.
How we've gone from being sponsored to do something challenging to 'sponsor me for maybe having a little less alcohol for a few weeks' is beyond me.

I'll happily sponsor friends doing challenges even if it's linked to their hobby (eg someone who's never done a marathon running a marathon, someone who enjoys cycling doing a long distance challenge) but some of the things people are seeking sponsorship at the moment is tantamount to chugging. They may as well outright ask for bank details and skip the pretend activity.

GeorgeDavidson · 01/10/2020 07:31

Good for them but unless they’re going to do something rather than stop something I’m not handing cash over. Some chubby, none runner at work doing a marathon? That I’ll sponsor...

MagpieSong · 01/10/2020 08:08

Yeah, I find it weird. But I find climbing mount kilimanjaro for money weird - I mean, yes it’s tricky, but it’s an exciting adventure that some people would choose to do on holiday. I do sponsor those doing walking/running/swimming without a trip abroad, but a lot of the stuff nowadays I find revolve around an enjoyable adventure for the person and actually if they’d put the money from the trip etc towards the charity, they’d be able to give way more. If you’re going sober, just go sober, IMO. Do something else like a marathon or super long walk that’s cheap to do and takes huge effort to raise money for charity.

ShebaShimmyShake · 01/10/2020 08:18

[quote ohlookout]@Leaannb Because they've told me that they won't donate[/quote]
They asked you for money, you asked them if they were donating any and they told you they weren't?

StCharlotte · 01/10/2020 08:22

Given the struggles the hospitality - pubs in particular - industry is suffering right now, dry January and Go Sober for October should be outlawed.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 01/10/2020 09:18

Given the struggles the hospitality - pubs in particular - industry is suffering right now, dry January and Go Sober for October should be outlawed.

I think that's probably what's driven them to change it to Have Slightly Less Alcohol Than You Normally Would October. They still want the money in, but they feel hugely guilty for making money by encouraging people to deliberately help send pubs that are already on their knees to the wall.