During a time when people are in desperate need of comfort, support and a sense of connection, some have choosen to give up the one thing that can bring them all three of these – alcohol. Sober October is a nation-wide campaign that aims to encourage people to remain alcohol-free throughout the entire month to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year the challenge has been modified to adapt to the global pandemic. In addition to the old-school 31-day challenge, a 21 and 14-day option have also been made available for the participants, who are also coined Soberheroes.
It might not be surprising to know that lockdown exacerbated many people’s drinking ritual. According to a research released on 3 July, conducted by Opinium and commissioned by Alcohol Change UK, more than a quarter (28%) of the 2,000 people surveyed in the UK think they drank more during lockdown, and one in five drank as a response to stress or anxiety. Then what does no alcohol really mean in a Covid time?
Nicky Cooney, 35, a wedding photographer and a mother of three, first experienced the benefits of not drinking after joining an alcohol-free challenge for 28 days. “It was a real eye opener. I felt amazing, and so much more time on my hands to do things with kids, I was a better mum and wife. Instead of plonking my butt on the couch at 7pm zoning out with a Chardonnay in hand, I was spending valuable time with my kids,” she said.
But after a lockdown, a summer with little income and the stress of what was to come for her family her drinking crept in again. “Five nights a week. On weekends sometimes starting at 3pm. And before I knew it I was unhappy, anxious, unhealthy with jeans that were too tight and acne,” said Cooney. So when Sober October presented itself, she jumped on the chance.
“I feel like I’m back in the driving seat. In control of what I eat and drink and to an extent in control of my emotions. I’m looking inward more. I want to be the best version of myself for my kids, I want to be happy and healthy and I think alcohol is one thing that scuppers that,” she added.
Cooney’s grandmother died of cancer at the start of lockdown and with all the charities losing their funds due to runs being cancelled, she sees Sober October as an opportunity to boost funds for a charity very close to her heart.
Lottie Balmer, 31, a paediatric physiotherapist, said taking part in Sober October during a pandemic is “very tough”. During lockdown drinking was her primary way of passing time so she drank “a lot more than usual”. But now she has to boycott the great pleasure that has been her source of comfort in the past few months.
With people gradually easing back into the real world the no-alcohol challenge seems even more impossible. “I’m now back to doing face to face work and because of Covid it is really busy. I never finish work on time. I can’t do what I want to do after work like I did before Covid because of restrictions, so yes I’m finding it harder to cope with stress thanks to Covid” said Balmer.
In addition to the frantic workload, her own home is another a scene of chaos. The renovation work in her house was stopped due to Covid and as a result Balmer and her husband are now living out of cardboard boxes. In normal circumstances even if she had to rule alcohol out of her life she would still be able to hold onto her support network, but now she can only fight the pressure off by herself.
Despite the hardships facing her, Balmer said the good cause of raising funds for Macmilan pushed her forward, as the charity has played an important role for some of her friends and family who are no longer here.
As of today nearly three million pounds have been raised by more than 60,000 Soberheroes.
