Sober October (UK)
Sober October is a UK fundraising challenge in which people give up alcohol for the 31 days of October and raise money for charity.
- UK
- USA (not marked)
- Ireland (not marked)
- Canada (not marked)
- Australia (not marked)
- New Zealand (not marked)
- UAE and Gulf (not marked)
- International (not marked)
About the day
Sober October asks people to stay alcohol-free for the whole of October and collect sponsorship. Macmillan Cancer Support ran it as Go Sober for October from 2013, but ended its involvement in 2026.
From 2026 the challenge is owned and delivered by the fundraising platform Ezy Raise, with Alcohol Change UK as its UK charity partner for 2026. The organisers advise anyone who may be physically dependent on alcohol to speak to a GP before stopping.
The challenge suits alcohol-free and low-alcohol drinks brands, health and fitness brands, employers running wellbeing programmes, hospitality venues with alcohol-free menus and health charities.
Dates for the next three years
| Year | Date | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 to 31 October 2026 | UK | Set by a fixed rule |
| 2027 | 1 to 31 October 2027 | UK | Set by a fixed rule |
| 2028 | 1 to 31 October 2028 | UK | Set by a fixed rule |
Sectors this day suits
Types of business that could link their activity to this day.
- Low and no alcohol drinks
- Health and fitness
- Employers and HR
- Hospitality
- Charities and non-profits
Questions and answers
When is Sober October (UK) 2026?
Sober October (UK) 2026 runs from 1 to 31 October 2026. The date follows the same rule every year.
How long does Sober October (UK) last?
Sober October (UK) runs for the whole of October.
Who organises Sober October (UK)?
Sober October (UK) is organised by Ezy Raise, with Alcohol Change UK as 2026 UK charity partner.
When did Sober October (UK) start?
Sober October (UK) was first held in 2013.
Where is Sober October (UK) marked?
Sober October (UK) is marked in the UK.
Where do these details come from?
We checked these details against two sources, including Civil Society: New UK charity partner for Sober October as Macmillan ends involvement. They were last checked on 28 October 2026.
Where this information comes from
- Civil Society: New UK charity partner for Sober October as Macmillan ends involvement
- Sober October UK: home page
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