Everything you need to know about Sober October Australia
It’s healthy for anyone to have a break from alcohol from time to time. And with Sober October, you could cut down on drinking and raise money for a good cause at the same time.
Sober October in Australia has been described as “the more poetic” Dry July. For those who didn’t participate in the month off alcohol earlier in the year, Sober October provides a perfect opportunity in the run up to Christmas, and the summer months, to do something good. And it means no hangovers!
What is Sober October and why do it?
Australians tend to participate in Sober October to raise money for charity. Not only does the initiative help save money, but abstaining from alcohol has been proven to have many health benefits too. In turn, you can channel your new found energy into a charity challenge.
1. Your savings can fund a cause close to your heart
It’s no new news that your favourite cocktail or glass of Shiraz normally comes with a decent price tag. Many Australians who participate in Sober October not only ask for donations from their loved ones, but donate the money they save by not drinking alcohol for the entire month to a cause of their choice too.
Kickstarting fundraising efforts with the money saved from not buying alcoholic beverages can help show how serious you are about fundraising for the cause.
2. Taking a break from alcohol is good for your health
Many studies have shown that health benefits from reducing or cutting out alcohol can positively impact your health. From reducing blood pressure and levels of fat in your blood, to regenerating the liver, the list of health benefits associated with not drinking are endless.
Some people notice instant benefits of cutting out alcohol, others take a little longer. Once you start to feel it you can channel your new found energy associated with your improvements in wellbeing into exercise and spending quality time with friends and family.
Feeling extra invigorated? Check out our list of the 10 best charity marathons and half marathons in Australia for inspiration on charity challenges.
3. Reducing or stopping drinking can improve mental wellbeing
Drinking large amounts can interfere with normal brain functions, which may lead to feelings of sadness or low levels of energy and mental clarity. There is evidence to suggest that reducing or stopping drinking alcohol helps rebalance the chemicals in the brain and improve your mood. This in turn will help you think more clearly, have better relationships with those around you and enjoy a better quality of life.
Sober October Australia ideas
You don’t have to do it alone. Why not rally your friends, colleagues or buddy up with a Sober October buddy to get you through. Here’s some more ideas to make your Sober October impactful.
Get family or friends involved through a challenge
There’s no shortage of creativity by Australians wanting to challenge themselves for charity. Why not challenge your family to join you in your efforts to abstain from alcohol for a month. Whether they want to take on the full month, they could even just participate for one or two weeks, or commit to not drinking alcohol on weekdays.
A new take on Sober October in Australia is to abstain from coffee for a month instead of alcohol. Challenge reluctant family members to sacrifice their much-loved caffeine hit instead.
You don’t have to do it alone. Why not rally your friends, colleagues or buddy up with a Sober October buddy to get you through. Here’s some more ideas to make your Sober October impactful.
Create a fundraiser to support charities
Launch a crowdfunding page to help keep you on track and know that the longer you abstain from alcohol, the more money you could potentially raise for your favorite cause. Communicate key milestones with your supporters and keep encouraging them to share your fundraiser. After one week, two weeks, three weeks, and the home straight. Keeping your network updated on the challenges you face along the way will help encourage donations.
Donate to support other fundraisers
There are many Australians joining the Sober October movement and if you’d prefer to donate directly to support them, you don’t need to look far.
- Lucy has taken on Sober October two years on the run to help fund neurological disease research.
- After the Black Summer bushfires saw an estimated 1 billion of Australian wildlife killed, Drew is hoping that his Sober October efforts will help with recovery efforts.
- Kirsty is pledging to not drink alcohol for one month to fund her passion and see more sea turtles protected through the Sea Turtle Foundation’s conservation efforts.
Create more awareness
If you’ve launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe for Sober October, it’s really important to shout about what you’re doing and start spreading the word. There are a number of ways that you can do this, starting with sharing your posts on social media. Circulate the link on your social media channels when you launch the fundraiser, but also when you have any updates too. Maybe you’ve met a fundraising goal or completed a challenge? Post about it! You can post updates to your GoFundMe page and then cross post them on social media too, as keeping your page updated is also important. If you feel comfortable, circulate your fundraising link to your group chats or any email lists you might have and encourage family and friends to share within their circles too.
You could also reach out to local media to share your fundraiser, too. They may want to speak to you about it further.
Host fundraising events
Another way which you could raise awareness and money for your good cause in Sober October is to host a fundraising event. Some easy ideas on this are:
- A sober BBQ or street party: Why not utilise your community and the summer months and get your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours together for a sober BBQ or street get together? Ask people to donate to enter and bring a dish and watch the community come together (and donations roll in!). Make sure to have the link to your GoFundMe readily available or QR codes so people can donate.
- Bake sale: Bake sales are a mainstay of fundraising – and for good reason! They are easy to organise and plenty of people are willing to contribute to get a sweet treat. Try to organise one where you know you’ll have footfall – at the office, for example.
- Sports days: Sports days are also excellent fundraising events as they are fun, competitive and can be tailored to all abilities and ages so that children can take part too. Think of several sporting events and gather a group of people to enter. You can even have silly prizes as an incentive.
Start your Sober October challenge today
There’s no time like the present. Choose which charity or good cause you would like to support, and sign up to start your own fundraiser, then prepare your non-alcoholic alternatives and get ready to start your Sober October challenge today.
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