Febfast 2026 is a simple February challenge with a serious purpose: go alcohol free for 28 days and use the month to raise funds for crisis support. The campaign says more than 5,000 Australians have already signed up and raised over $300,000 for Lifeline Australia, helping fund 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Signing up is free, and participants get a personal fundraising page plus a calendar tracker to mark off each alcohol free day.

What makes Febfast interesting is the prevention angle baked into the idea. A month without alcohol is not just “a reset”, it is a direct test of the assumption that drinking has to be part of adult life, socialising, or switching off after stress. The campaign material also points to common short term changes people often notice as the weeks pass, like improved sleep, more energy, clearer thinking, and a better sense of what triggers “default drinking”. For people with weddings or big events, the campaign also mentions a paid “One-OFF Pass”, basically an official night off that still supports the fundraising.

The fundraising piece matters because Lifeline’s service takes real infrastructure: trained supporters, phone and text lines, online chat, and a national network of centres, volunteers, and staff. The campaign text describes demand at huge scale, with more than a million contacts a year (it also cites a “every 24 seconds” figure), and estimates it costs $39 to help connect someone in crisis with support. Febfast is framed as “one small challenge, one big impact”, where a personal month off alcohol is paired with keeping those services available when someone reaches out.

Find more from Febfast (Australia, February 2026)