Alcohol as a raffle prize from a health care setting. Yay or nay?

[IsitaHatOrACat]

We've had a debate in our workplace today about this and I'm interested in more views

A local healthcare provider has a Christmas raffle to raise funds to improve the service for users and some of the prizes are alcohol

N.B This is not a specific alcohol reduction service however some users may have issues relating to alcohol use

YANBU: No, alcohol should not be a prize from a healthcare service

YABU: Chill out and enjoy the raffle

Remember they are also a work place so the food outlets are catering to staff as well.

I don’t think it’s appropriate, no.

Some users may have issues about anything, so probably shouldn't buy a ticket. Everyone else can chill out and enjoy the raffle

Nobody is going to buy a raffle ticket if the prize is a cabbage.

No.

Interesting one. A carton of cigs would never be a raffle prize, would it!!

Drink doesn’t suit me but luckily it wouldn’t impact me negatively if I won a bottle in a raffle, I’d pass it on to someone. I realise it wouldn’t be the same for everyone.

Despite my reservations I can see why it’s still a popular raffle prize - cheap enough, easy to get, and will still appeal to a lot of people. I know plenty at work who would happily throw in a few €’s for the chance to get a nice whiskey or brandy.

If hospitals and healthcare settings want to be seen as bastions of healthy living, they should do something about the execrable pap served as food to patients. A bottle of plonk at a Christmas raffle is not the problem.

By that logic you shouldn’t have anything ‘unhealthy’. That means you can’t have chocolate, cakes, or sweets either - and people can have allergies to soap or beauty products so you can’t have those - and some people have a fear of heights so you shouldn’t have experiences like a ride in a hot air balloon either.

Surely if you don’t want the prize you’ve won you just pass on it and let someone else win it. Someone might not want the prize themselves but could pass it on to someone who would appreciate it.

What about those with gambling issues too?!
If it was the local alcohol and drug team running the raffle - well, not really appropriate, otherwise, no problem IMHO.

Alcohol is very different to chocolate, cakes and sweets.

I don't see a problem with it, some people have a problem with alcohol just as some people have issues with other substances. Some people can't have chocolate, some people are allergic to things like perfume. If you rule out anything that could be inappropriate to somebody you will struggle to find raffle prizes that are acceptable.

A voucher for a massage? Could be triggering, some people don't like to be touched. Travel vouchers? Might upset someone because they feel they can't travel because of caring commitments.

One person's meat is another person's poison.

god, it's a bloody raffle! NHS should rather look at the crap if feeds people in hospital (or the lack of healthcare overall). But a bottle of plonk as a raffle price??? Christ, some people just love to be offended..

Alcohol does actually have some restrictions in terms of being raffles. It may be sticky if it's a purely private org eg some care homes.

We wouldn't in our health care place. It would either be patients winning it and where I work alcohol is discouraged. Or it would be staff where we have a high portion of Muslims

I would as a staff only, or if it was somewhere like a care home where it was more likely to be the public/friends/family entering

Maybe they asked for donations as raffle prizes and they are what people donated. Don't enter the raffle if you don't want to win that prize.

Interesting one. A carton of cigs would never be a raffle prize, would it!!

Alcohol and cigarettes aren't really the same, though - alcohol is nowhere near as addictive or as harmful to health as cigarettes, really. Most people who drink alcohol regularly aren't addicted to it. But all habitual smokers are addicted to cigarettes. It's also possible to drink in moderation with little to no risk to one's health, whereas smoking in moderation is still unequivocally harmful.

Junk food is also not comparable to cigarettes. Some people find it hard not to eat sweets and crisps and takeaways, but that doesn't actually mean they're physically addictive and they're still food that, in moderation, is harmless. If someone's been sitting up all night with a sick relative with no chance to eat a meal, a cup of coffee and a Twix are more likely to be beneficial than harmful.

Personally, I think that if you think alcohol shouldn't be a raffle prize or that chocolates and crisps shouldn't be sold in hospital vending machines, then the solution to that is not to buy a raffle ticket and not to use the vending machines, rather than to suggest they shouldn't be allowed.

Alcohol is way, way more harmful than you're suggesting. Do you really believe there are more people addicted to cigarettes than alcohol?

Presumably the prizes were donated. You can’t pick and choose what is donated. Many people will be pleased to win booze either for their own use or for hosting or giving as presents. Is it the type of raffle where you choose your prize?

If there are many service users are actively known to have substance misuse issues/in recovery from it, then if they are buying raffle tickets I'd say it's not appropriate.
There could also be people who don't drink for religious or taste reasons.
A voucher for a supermarket is good, so if someone did want alcohol then it's up to them if they use it for that. But they could use it for gifts or food or essentials as well.

The organization is trying to raise money for a good and worthy cause.

I would see no problem if they had a bottle of wine in a nice gift basket with cheese and crackers jams spreads, whatever.

This would appeal to a lot of people who either would want it for themselves or to use it for a gift for someone who would enjoy it.

Remember: the bottom line is they want to raise funds and must appeal to as many people who would purchase a raffle ticket as possible.

The trust I work for has a policy that says we can’t do this. No alcohol or home baking for the public.

Thanks. Lots of different views on this. I'm honestly between the two thoughts of for and against. I'm only a very occasional drinker of a glass of wine for special events so I realise my views may be skewed against alcohol. I'm struggling a bit with the giving away alcohol in a a setting which should be promoting health!

Are there other food/drink prices in the raffle? 'healthy' chocolate or so? ;-)

We have alcohol in our work raffle (I work in a hospital). We would never sell any tickets otherwise. But it’s not only patients buying tickets. I’m not sure I’m overly comfortable with it but it is what it is.