CrewChief;146663 wrote: I guess it's analogous to a liquor store certificate ~ claiming, "Hey, they sell more than liquor. They sell soda, peanuts, chips, etc" So I can understand that some sponsors are less appropriate for school fundraisers than others.
The alcohol debate is yet another nightmare. Impossible to define "right and wrong" to everyone's satisfaction, so just pray it doesn't come up. Barring the issue of alcohol on campus - which is never appropriate, what is suitable and what isn't is a no win debate. A gift certificate from the local boutique winery may sound fine. But the local package store, oh no! The local grocery store sells beer and wine, but that's "different". A bar, no. But that the local "wings" place - that's a restaurant. Okay, it does have a very limited menu, is set up as a sports bar, and gets 90% of its revenue from beer. But at least it SOUNDS like a restaurant.
My cousin is a manager in the restaurant industry. Some of the "family" chain restaurants we all beg as sponsors actually stay or go based on their bar sales. The food hopes to break even. Whether the location stays open depends on how much alcohol they serve.
There are some huge grey areas when we starting trying to determine right and wrong when it comes to who is eligible to sponsor a school activity.