A group of advocates are holding a bottle drive on Thursday, but the funds they raise won't be going to a charity, they say they are raising money for the Alberta Government to make up for cuts made to social service programs.

Albertans Who Care say community agencies in Edmonton have been given letters stating the Edmonton Region of Persons with Developmental Disabilities will give back $2.8 million dollars to the provincial government, meaning agencies will have to revise budgets.

Organizers are using the mock bottle drive to draw attention to the Premier Ed Stelmach's decision to reverse a liquor tax worth about 10 cents a bottle, which would have meant an extra $180 million a year for the government.

"If we had that $180 million they wouldn't currently have to cut services to people with disabilities in this province," said Wendy McDonald from the Alberta Association for Community Living.

The mock bottle drive will take place at 7 p.m. at the McDougall United Church on Jan. 14.

Organizers are asking people to show up with messages in a bottle for the government.