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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School booze raffle

167 replies

nicegirl73 · 12/10/2021 13:55

I don’t usually post but this really got to me.

My daughter’s CoE primary sent out an email saying the children can come in normal clothes next Friday if they give a bottle of booze for the “booze barrow raffle”

They have defended this because the raffle is for adults and the school needs money,

but I still think it sets such a poor example to the kids. Talk about making alcohol fun.

AIBU? Or is this wrong on so many levels?

OP posts:
Original poster
nicegirl73 · 12/10/2021 15:10

Omg at the replies, no wonder there is such a huge alcohol problem in this country if people’s attitudes are so pro drinking as yours all are.

OP posts:
MrsMariaReynolds · 12/10/2021 15:10

A common (and very profitable) raffle at our Catholic primary school always includes bottles. Stop being the Fun Police, Op.

SleepingStandingUp · 12/10/2021 15:13

My only issue is that it's a very expensive out of uniform.
Ours do a bottle so you can get away with something that costs less than £1 if needed. Whereas alcohol is going to be £3/4+?

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 12/10/2021 15:13
Hmm
girlmom21 · 12/10/2021 15:14

@nicegirl73

Omg at the replies, no wonder there is such a huge alcohol problem in this country if people’s attitudes are so pro drinking as yours all are.
Is there a huge alcohol problem in this country?

I think you need to have a nice bath and a glass of vino Wine

saraclara · 12/10/2021 15:14

I like alcohol. I've been known to spend a few pounds at a bottle tombola.

But it does seem odd to say that the children can ONLY come in normal clothes if they bring alcohol in. It should be any bottle. Partly due to cost, and partly because there might be parents who are in AA or some such. Dictating that anyone has to buy booze for the sake of their kids' participation, is a bit off. I'm surprised that few people have picked up on that

girlmom21 · 12/10/2021 15:15

The only issue I would have is them excluding children from non-uniform day because their parents can't or won't send them with a bottle

NortieTortie · 12/10/2021 15:15

Don't be silly. What else am I going to do with the shit wine our local pizza place sends with orders over £30?

sendaisnow · 12/10/2021 15:16

Yabu

saraclara · 12/10/2021 15:19

@gogohm

My kids first school even held a beer festival, made £6k! Schools need the money
Which is fine. But an entirely different scenario. In this case, children aren't allowed to come into school in their normal clothes UNLESS they bring alcohol in.

The school has basically removed the choice from parents. So the teetotaller, the recovering alcoholic and the poorer parents are forced into an incredibly difficult situation because they don't want to let their kid down.

Pazuzu · 12/10/2021 15:19

I'm teetotal. I send in a bottle and buy raffle tickets. Thanks for saying how I feel. 50p and could win a decent bottle and win brownie points from the family members who do drink? Sounds a plan.

Muslims tend not to be offended by such things. What others do isn't there problem. Fairly simple concept. Strangely enough, it's unlikely that a school with a high proportion of Muslim pupils would run an alcohol raffle.

Waternoice · 12/10/2021 15:20

YABU
I bloody love a bottle tombola! One of my happiest memories was winning 6 bottles of good stuff after picking just 10 tickets once at my daughter's catholic school Christmas fair.
( makes a mental note to seek out the local schools' fete dates)

RudestLittleMadam · 12/10/2021 15:21

The booze raffle/tombola was always a big hit and got plenty of money at the school fairs I’ve helped out at before. None of the kids seemed affected in any way whatsoever ever.

Longdistance · 12/10/2021 15:21

Don’t be silly. I sometimes get gifts from parents via their dc in the form of ‘booze’.

ElephantOfRisk · 12/10/2021 15:22

When DSs were young and went to the school fair alone (aged 10/11ish) they weren't allowed to bring home any alcohol they won on the tombola but school were happy for them to take it in - double standards! Grin

BlusteryLake · 12/10/2021 15:23

@girlmom21

The only issue I would have is them excluding children from non-uniform day because their parents can't or won't send them with a bottle
In our school, everyone comes in in ordinary clothes. Nobody polices who actually brings a bottle. It's a PTA fundraiser, every little helps and any donation is a bonus.
SickAndTiredAgain · 12/10/2021 15:26

@SickAndTiredAgain

I wouldn’t have an issue with a booze raffle. I don’t like the fact that children who don’t bring a bottle in have to come in school uniform, while those that do, don’t.
I’ll add that I don’t actually drink. So while I have no issue with the idea of the raffle, and might send in a bottle, I wouldn’t take part in the raffle, and wouldn’t like my child to have to wear school uniform if I decided I didn’t want to send a bottle.
girlmom21 · 12/10/2021 15:27

@BlusteryLake I agree with that being the way it is for the most part but the message clearly has conditions. I just don't agree with that, whether they're strict on it or not.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 12/10/2021 15:29

It’s not the best idea because alcohol is going to be pretty expensive for families on a tight budget. When we were really broke, a bottle of wine was a real treat. Even a cheap one. I would have resented sending a bottle in for them to give away!

That said, I’d be grateful for someone taking booze donations as my DH gets the same bottle of shit whiskey every year from a certain relative. I have four unopened bottles of Bell’s that I can’t get rid of.

Worried234 · 12/10/2021 15:32

Our primary school have done this for 20 years or so. Huge fundraiser.

Get a grip.

ancientgran · 12/10/2021 15:35

I'm tee total, always seemed to win a bottle of plonk on the school raffle/tombola.

notacooldad · 12/10/2021 15:36

Omg at the replies, no wonder there is such a huge alcohol problem in this country if people’s attitudes are so pro drinking as yours all are
Nothing up with it in moderation.
I've not had a drink since my birthday last January but I do like a drink now and then. I really dont think I have a problem for being pro booze tombola!

What about those who don’t drink? Teetotal? And Muslims?
What about them?
The teettollers either dont have acho or reguft uf they win.
Same with the muslims. The Muslim family that lives next door and the one that lives opposite me call round and regifts their drinks to me.

Just a thought - what if it were tobacco is that OK
No , the school is trying to make money! Hardly anyone seems to smoke these days. Everyone would be spending their money on the alcohol tombola instead!

Our school does a meat hamper as well
Wont anyone think about the vegetarians!!😭😭😭
Actually Dh won it one year so he was happy!

Got to love a buzz kill neurotic parent! I'm glad they are everywhere and not just at our school!

bigbluebus · 12/10/2021 15:36

This reminded me of when DS was about 8. His primary school had an annual Summer Fayre . One year there was a guess the teacher competition (baby photos of all the teachers). My DH won it and sent DS to collect the prize (a bottle of wine). When he got to the teacher running it she had to confess that she'd actually forgotten to buy the prize and said she'd get it at the weekend and bring it to school on Monday. DS replied, in that case my mum likes Pinot Grigio! Teacher duly bought the wine as chosen by 8 yo DS (which I hasten to add she handed to me personally on the Monday with much hilarity).
Alcohol as prizes and drinks at events have always been the norm at school fund raisers in my experience.

ancientgran · 12/10/2021 15:37

@girlmom21

The only issue I would have is them excluding children from non-uniform day because their parents can't or won't send them with a bottle
I can't imagine anyone humiliating a child in mufti because they didn't bring a bottle. I'd have issues with a school that did that.
BasiliskStare · 12/10/2021 15:39

@nicegirl73

At Ds's junior school it was a bottle tombola - so as a previous poster said - could be washing up liquid , all sorts of non alcoholic drinks but many brought wine etc. I actually won a very nice little bottle of balsamic vinegar once - well done me.

I know all do not condone alcohol but in moderation it can be nice.

I would disagree with a purely "booze" tom bola - I think other options would be nice ( & maybe winners can swap - but I am not sure we are at a time yet where there can not be a bottle of wine in a tombola . ) Even at a school where it will be the parents taking it home.