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Sober October – Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Sober October is a fundraising and awareness campaign organised by Coolmine Therapeutic Community, a registered Irish charity, CHY 5902 and Charities Regulator Number 20009687.

The campaign encourages participants to go alcohol-free for the month of October while raising funds to support Coolmine’s addiction recovery services across Ireland.

2. Eligibility

  • Participants must be aged 18 years or over.
  • The campaign is open to residents of Ireland and abroad.
  • Merchandise delivery may be subject to geographical restrictions. Any applicable restrictions will be included in the promotional information for the relevant incentive.

3. Registration

  • To participate, individuals must register through the official Sober October Ireland website at www.soberoctober.ie.
  • By registering, participants agree to these Terms and Conditions.
  • Participants also consent to receiving essential communications relating to the administration of the campaign, their fundraising page, merchandise eligibility and campaign activity.
  • Participants can manage their preferences or unsubscribe from non-essential campaign communications at any time.

4. Fundraising

  • All funds raised for Sober October must be submitted through the official fundraising platform at www.soberoctober.ie.
  • Only donations successfully processed through the official fundraising platform will count towards a participant’s fundraising total.
  • Cancelled, declined, refunded or fraudulent donations will not count towards fundraising totals or merchandise eligibility.
  • Coolmine reserves the right to verify fundraising activity and may request evidence that fundraising has been carried out in accordance with appropriate and ethical fundraising standards.
  • Participants must not use Sober October to raise funds for any organisation other than Coolmine.

5. Merchandise Incentives

Participants who reach specified fundraising targets during the Sober October campaign may be eligible to receive Sober October merchandise.

Specific merchandise incentives will be promoted at different stages of the campaign. Each promotion will clearly state:

  • The fundraising target to be reached
  • The relevant opening and closing dates
  • The merchandise available
  • Whether the merchandise is limited to a specific number of participants
  • How eligible participants will receive their merchandise
  • Any additional eligibility, delivery or fulfilment conditions

Only donations successfully processed through the official Sober October fundraising platform during the relevant incentive period will count towards eligibility.

Where merchandise is limited, it will be allocated to eligible participants in the order in which they reach the specified fundraising target, based on the date and time recorded on the official fundraising platform.

Merchandise incentives:

  • Are based on fundraising performance and are not raffles or prize draws
  • Cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash
  • Are subject to availability
  • May be replaced with an appropriate alternative item if the advertised merchandise becomes unavailable due to circumstances outside Coolmine’s control

Coolmine will contact eligible participants using the details provided during registration. Participants may be asked to provide or confirm a postal address for delivery and are responsible for ensuring this information is complete and accurate.

Specific incentive details will be communicated through the Sober October website, campaign emails or promotional materials. Where applicable, promotional materials will include a link to these Terms and Conditions.

6. Matched Donations

Coolmine may run a matched-donation promotion during the Sober October campaign, supported by a named corporate or community partner.

During a matched-donation promotion:

  • Eligible donations made to registered Sober October fundraising pages will be matched up to the total funding limit stated in the relevant promotion.
  • The opening and closing dates and times will be clearly communicated before the promotion begins.
  • Donations will only be matched while the available matched-funding amount remains.
  • Once the total matched-funding limit has been reached, subsequent donations will not be matched.
  • Donations made before or after the stated promotional period will not be eligible for matching.
  • Cancelled, declined, refunded or fraudulent donations will not be eligible.
  • Unless otherwise stated, matched funds will support the participant’s fundraising total but will not count towards eligibility for merchandise incentives.
  • The matched portion will be donated directly by the named campaign partner to Coolmine.

Specific details, including the partner, promotion period and total amount available, will be communicated through the Sober October website, campaign emails and relevant promotional materials.

7. 2026 Incentive and Matched-Funding Dates

The following merchandise incentives and matched-donation promotion will apply during the 2026 Sober October campaign:

Sober October Tote Bag: €24 in 24 Hours

  • The incentive opens at 00:00 on 24 September 2026 and closes at 23:59 on 24 September 2026.
  • Participants who raise €24 during this 24-hour period through their official Sober October fundraising page will receive a Sober October tote bag, subject to availability.
  • Donations received before or after the stated period will not count towards this incentive.

Matched Donations

  • The matched-donation promotion opens at 9:00am on 6 October 2026 and closes at 11:59pm on 8 October 2026, or earlier if the full match fund is used.
  • During this period, eligible donations will be matched by Community Credit Union, up to a total matched-funding limit of €3,500.
  • Donations will only be matched while matched funds remain available.
  • Donations received before or after the stated period will not be eligible for matching.

Sober October Merchandise Pack Incentive

  • The incentive opens at 00:01 on 17 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 on 31 October 2026.
  • The first 100 registered participants to reach a fundraising total of €75 during the incentive period will receive an exclusive Sober October merchandise pack worth €15.
  • Each pack will contain a selection of branded Sober October clothing and accessories. Pack contents may vary.
  • Merchandise packs will be allocated in the order participants reach the €75 fundraising target, based on the date and time recorded on the official Sober October fundraising platform.
  • Each eligible participant may receive a maximum of one merchandise pack.
  • Eligible participants will be contacted after the incentive closes to confirm their delivery details.
  • Merchandise packs cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash or an alternative item.

Only donations successfully processed through the official Sober October fundraising platform during the relevant incentive period will count. Cancelled, declined, refunded or fraudulent donations will not be eligible. All incentives remain subject to the general merchandise and matched-donation conditions contained in these Terms and Conditions.

8. Campaign Duration

  • The Sober October 2026 campaign will run from 17 August to 31 October 2026.
  • The 31-day alcohol-free challenge will run from 1 October to 31 October 2026.
  • Fundraising pages may remain open until 13 November 2026 to allow for final donations.
  • Donations received after an individual merchandise incentive has closed will not count towards that incentive unless otherwise stated.

9. Data Protection

  • Coolmine will process personal data in accordance with its Privacy Statement.
  • Personal data collected to administer the campaign or merchandise incentives will only be used for campaign administration, eligibility verification, communications and merchandise fulfilment.
  • Participants’ personal data will not be sold.
  • Where a service provider is required to process donations or deliver merchandise, the minimum information necessary may be shared securely for that purpose.
  • Personal data will only be retained for as long as necessary to administer the campaign and comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

10. Health and Participation

  • Participants take part in Sober October voluntarily and are responsible for deciding whether the challenge is appropriate for them.
  • Sober October is an awareness and fundraising campaign aimed at social drinkers. It is not a treatment programme or a substitute for professional medical or addiction support.
  • Anyone who is dependent on alcohol, experiences withdrawal symptoms, or has concerns about stopping alcohol consumption should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional before taking part.
  • Participants should not stop drinking alcohol suddenly if they have been advised that doing so could present a risk to their health.

11. Liability

  • Participants take part in Sober October and any related activities at their own risk.
  • To the extent permitted by law, Coolmine accepts no responsibility for injury, loss or damage arising from participation in the campaign, except where directly caused by Coolmine’s negligence.
  • Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

12. Cancellation and Amendments

  • Coolmine reserves the right to cancel, suspend or amend the campaign, a matched-donation promotion, a merchandise incentive or these Terms and Conditions where necessary due to unforeseen circumstances or matters outside its reasonable control.
  • If advertised merchandise becomes unavailable, Coolmine may provide an appropriate alternative item.
  • Any significant changes will be communicated through the campaign website or directly to registered participants, where appropriate.
  • Coolmine’s decision regarding eligibility for merchandise or matched funding will be final, subject to applicable law.

13. Contact

For queries relating to Sober October, fundraising, matched donations or merchandise eligibility, please contact:
✉️ soberoctober@coolmine.ie
☎️ +353 1 6991587