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Written by Tony Morgan

Category: Dry January and Go Sober for October

Published: 20 October 2021

This article is being written a few days before the start of October, or Sober October, one of the months when charity groups ask us to knock off the drink for a bit. Cutting down can have benefits including sleeping better, having more energy, and losing weight. Sober October raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a cause I am sure many of us think is worthwhile. Hot on the heels of Christmas and the New Year comes Dry January, brought to you by Alcohol Change UK, a charity which aims for a society that is free from the harm caused by alcohol. Alcohol Change says that it is not anti-alcohol, it just a society where people don’t need to turn to alcohol to overcome society’s ills such as poverty and homelessness. As responsible cask ale drinkers I am sure none of us are unaware of these problems and would support these aims.

But how does this affect your local? Both groups raise money for charity. Since 2014, Sober October has raised over £33 million for Macmillan Cancer Support. Alcohol Change say that in 2021, 6.5 million people took part in Dry January, but don’t appear to publish figures on moneys raised. The UK beer & alcohol trade contributes millions to charity annually, some figures show 96% of pubs run charitable events through the year, raising more than £100 Million, with the average pub contributing £2742 per year. Anyone who has submitted Asset of Community Value (ACV) application will know that evidence of a pubs charitable work can often get an ACV approved, as it shows the pub has a community role. Throughout the UK, more than 2000 charities benefit from the fundraising centred around pubs.

Events such as Dry January and Go Sober for October have an effect as some people will avoid the pub during the charity month. Pubs are struggling to survive, not just from the effects of Covid lockdowns and the slow return of customers, but also from changes in drinking habits due to home drinking using cheap supermarket alcohol. You may be thinking of doing one of these charity abstinence things, that’s down to you, but if you do think pub. You don’t have to abandon the pub and its community. There are plenty of low- and no-alcohol alternatives available, there are even some which taste like beer these days. Keep going out and spending money in your local and support the local hospitality trade. If you want to go Sober October or Dry January, do it. Do what’s right for you, but please keep the hospitality industry and your local pubs in mind. Remember their charity work, we don’t want to be saying goodbye to that as well as losing pubs. Macmillan is good charity to contribute to and provides support to those that are really in need. You can donate direct by heading to their website on the following link: https://www.gosober.org.uk/beneficiaries/macmillan/donations/new