To think that free alcohol should NOT be available via OLIO

[stitchinguru]

Just that really.
I think this verges on unethical. I am very much in favour of reducing food waste but alcohol is not a necessity and has been instrumental in many people’s downfall.

Party pooper.

off to check out OLIO

As long as the person giving it away makes sure they give to someone over 18 then what is the issue.

Besides I've only ever seen it on the app once in my 5 years as a volunteer

Best advert for Olio I’ve ever seen. I didn’t know they did this!

OK - obviously haven’t been closely involved with addiction issues.
Getting a free stock of booze could be so triggering for some… a sure fire way to ruin someone’s recovery.

OK - obviously haven’t been closely involved with addiction issues and the devastation it can cause for families and individuals.
Getting a free stock of booze could be so triggering for some… a sure fire way to ruin someone’s recovery.
It just seems a bad move for such a ‘principled’ company.

I have actually been very very close I've lost people close to alcohol addiction and still have close family members very much in the throes of it. If you know anything about alcohol addiction you know if they want it they will go and get it from the nearest shop for a few quid. Being given away free will make no difference if they want a drink they will get it either way.

Okay, but you could say the same thing about alcohol as a raffle or bingo prize, given as a gift, handed out at the reception of a fancy wedding or party, open bars, offers, complementary drinks on planes...

Aren't the items offered and requested individually? It's not like there's a grab bag full of different kinds of food and you'd be surprised to get home and find a bottle of vodka in with your apples and carrots. If someone battling alcoholism is going to go on the app and look for alcohol, they're also going to go to the shops and buy alcohol, unless they're completely broke. (I'd agree with you if it was sending someone home with alcohol they didn't ask for, so they might be tempted in a weak moment when otherwise they wouldn't have it in the house.)

@Sunnyqueen
As a recovering alcoholic myself, I think I AM in a position to talk about triggers.
People who use OLIO are probably a bit ‘down on their luck’ (not always) and a company pertaining to being so ethical should maybe be looking towards minimising unhelpful temptation.

@takealettermsjones
Yes, I do feel a bit the same about this.
However, this seems more of an issue because this is marketed as a community organisation with volunteers etc.

I've given loads of alcohol away on there. Leftover bits and bobs from parties that I don't want/drink.

It's always very popular.

I think olio is to stop things going in the bin so I don't see a problem with it.

I think your situation with alcohol is probably making you look at this in a very negative light

For the majority of people, alcohol isn’t a problem. Free alcohol is available in lots of places so if alcoholics were hell bent on finding some, they can without the Olio app
eg my local majestic does free wine tastings of up to 6 different wines, and there are 3 branches within walking distance

And as pp said, it’s no more triggering than walking past endless pubs advertising cheap pints, or newsagents advertising cheap drinks, surely?

What about people with a binge eating problem? Giving away free food must be pretty triggering.

If alcoholics want to drink they'll find a way, free or not.

Alcoholics aren't going to relapse just because they've found free alcohol on Olio. They'll relapse because they're addicts and most will do whatever they can go get their hands on drink when they're in the middle of a binge. I speak from the experience seeing family members and friends go through addiction and die from it.

However, the vast majority of people aren't addicted to alcohol so it's not an issue for them to take it for free.

Olio is an app to reduce food waste. It's not there to decide what's worthy of being given away and what's not.

@tenbob
Its not just my situation…
I think you are underplaying the very negative impact alcohol has on society… ask any police officer, A and E nurse, DV officer etc and you might begin to see that this isn’t just about ‘me’

@mountainsunsets
I don’t think you can say what might cause an alcoholic to relapse… but I’d say the availability of free booze in the name of a good cause might just do it.
Alcohol is NOT food waste….

Olio isn't just about food waste though. Its stopping everything that's possible to not go to landfill.

I think you are taking your own personal experience and making it a massive deal. And to 95% of the users of Olio it's not a big deal.

Ditto

This.

If someone decides to drink then it'll make no matter whether its free or not. Someone v. close to me was a recovering alcoholic and there's a saying the head goes first even before you've taken the first drink. Or a 'dry drunk'. Once your head has decided then that's it.

Olio is there to minimise waste of any kind, not just food. They’re very clear that their mission isn’t to solve poverty or social ills, it’s about the circular economy.

I’m well aware of the societal dangers of alcohol but I doubt very much of it is caused by 4 bottles of short dated beer being given to someone for free alongside some on-the-turn carrots

As I said, free and cheap alcohol is available everywhere. If it is a major trigger for relapsing alcoholics, recovery programmes presumably try and give people the tools to avoid it.
Those same tools can be used with Olio

I just can’t see why you have got such an issue with them and not eg my local Indian takeaway that often puts a free bottle of Cobra in the bag without being asked
Or M&S doing a free bottle of wine bundled in with their meal deal

OK - so it was unreasonable.
Don’t suppose anyone knows if they also do faggs or baccy?
Would hate to think of them going to waste.