School booze raffle

[nicegirl73]

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?

Our school does this but they sell it as a Bottle raffle so they get all sorts. Bottles of ketchup/shower gel etc. I’m always a little disappointed if I come away without alcohol.

Should be bring a bottle instead of bring a bottle of booze, did that often when I was PTA. Booze is expensive where as there are all sorts of different priced bottles you can bring, and it's funny to see what turns up! Also what if you had a parent who was a recovering alcoholic. I really don't think it's appropriate to specify that it has to be booze and that kids can only wear their own clothes if they bring some.

I’m a retired teacher. A few self-righteous parents would always complain about things like this. Let it go. It’s not going to harm your children but it will give you a reputation as a complainer even though the raffle will happen as planned.

Our school asks for bottles. We predominantly get alcohol.

DD's faith school ask for a list of items and alcohol is included. It's also the biggest money raiser stall. Or at least it was before Covid.

As oppose to giving people alcohol on a Sunday and asking them to imagine it is the blood of their invisible friend?

I was recently accused of being sanctimonious on an alcohol thread and even I think you need to get a grip.

If you don't approve, either refuse to donate, make a cash donation or donate something non-alcoholic.
The PTA will have asked for this as they know it's one of the biggest money spinners. Most people I know just use it as an excuse to get rid of unwanted presents or stuff that has sat in the drinks cabinet for years.

This wouldn't bother me at all

@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.

Talk about an over reaction! 😂😂

I don't have a problem with this sort of find raiser at all. I very very rarely drink alcohol.

I don't really drink and I still think you're being redic. So there is not necessarily a link.

I've seen some grimly entertaining things at school events in my time as a result of alcohol being available - the parent who snored through the second half of the play, the punchup at the summer fete beer tent between Mums who hadn't anticipated a bottle of wine each was best left until they were at home instead of when little Miles/Francesca/Simeon were pinging off the walls of the bouncy castle and then the day where it was found that the alcohol hadn't been securely locked up and had been regularly dipped into by teenagers over the previous 3-5 months, going by the number of empty bottles stashed underneath the stage.

It's all a bit of fun, though. Because everybody drinks except teetotallers, strict Methodists, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Salvation Army, Mormons, some Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, etc

They should rename it 'Own Clothes for up to a Tenner Day'. Because that's what they're demanding - nobody in favour taking the donations is going to be pleased with a single bottle of Beck's Blue - they want spirits and posher wines to bring in more money, and that pressure will be felt by many, many parents, even without the ones where it would be a brilliant excuse for buying alcohol.

DS went to a Methodist School (we are not Methodist) The mulled wine after the School carol concert was very popular. I seem to remember asking on Open Day what there stance on alcohol was!

I object to encouraging gambling more than the alcohol but you could check that they have an alcohol license. Just be grateful you are not the poor person taking on the responsibility of running it and making sure children dont buy tickets/ get hold of a bottle. There were always parents who want their child to draw the tickets and collect the prize.

Ours was a bottle stall, we did have some soft drinks and some bottles of lager or beer.

Our school does a chocolate raffle. You can take in anything from a freddo to luxury selections. There is no reward for the kids as school never use incentives that involve what their parents do/don't do. It's a very multicultural school with large numbers of households on very tight budgets and in an area with lots of drink and drug problems. They stay clear of alcohol. The chocolate raffle is very popular though and I much prefer chocolate to alcohol anyway.

Ooh I bloody love a good raffle!!! I'm not a huge drinker (will still buy tickets though) and I usually regift the alcohol, but I love the thrill of the chase

We sent in juice if bottles were requested as personally I don’t want mine thinking alcohol is the everyday norm.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

We sent in juice if bottles were requested as personally I don’t want mine thinking alcohol is the everyday norm.

Were you asked for alcohol daily, that's a bit OTT! Or was in once or twice a year?

@jillandhersprite

Isn't this where you do the parenting - and decide how you want to bring up kids and influence their views on alcohol - rather than expect the world around to accommodate your wishes. I've grown up with bottle tombolas and don't have a problem. Somehow I think banning booze in school tombolas is not going to change people that have a problem with alcohol. Also I suspect this is similar elsewhere but... They don't police the kids and everyone is non uniform - its to remind parents that a contribution helps with the fundraising efforts Its not just booze at many schools - it can be a bottle of anything. I think the same bottle of dodgy bath bubbles/weird foreign spirit that are not wanted get regifted back into next years tombola to be laughed about on the parent whatsapp groups!

The problem is you need to know the schools won’t police it in order to be confident your child won’t be singled out.

What will most likely happen is that the children of families who can’t afford it just won’t be in school that day.

My daughters primary has done this for years, bottles of lemonade can be taken in for it if people don’t want to take alcohol, it’s the most popular table at the fayres all us mums love it!