Why Miss Universe Olivia Molly Rogers has ditched booze for good

It’s been 433 days since Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers had her last alcoholic beverage, and she’s been on the other end of some very ‘uncomfortable’ questions since.

The 30-year-old Adelaide speech pathologist says she’s often left having to explain her reasoning to judgemental people – and at first many are quick to think she’s pregnant or a designated driver. 

This has led the model to realise how deep alcohol is embedded into Australia’s culture, and deems it to be a ‘drug’ that’s socially accepted.  

Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers (pictured) quit drinking alcohol in May 2021, and since then she’s been asked some ‘uncomfortable’ questions about this decision 

The 30-year-old Adelaide speech pathologist says she’s often left having to explain her reasoning as to why she doesn’t drink – and at first many are quick to think she’s pregnant or a designated driver

After her first 30 days of sobriety, Olivia found some people would ‘pushback’ and find ways for her to drink at any social occasion. 

‘If I was to say, “I’m not drinking tonight”, people might push back and ask, “Why? Why aren’t you drinking?”‘ she told 9Honey.

‘And you could say, “Oh, I’m driving.” And they would say, “Oh, leave your car, I’ll drop you to your car tomorrow.” People will try to find solutions to help you drink, which is pretty bizarre.’ 

Since quitting booze for good, Olivia said she’s never felt more comfortable and confident. 

She also didn’t drink on her wedding day but admitted to having a sip of her husband’s wine, though now doesn’t even enjoy the taste of alcohol. 

‘If I was to say, “I’m not drinking tonight”, people might push back and ask, “Why? Why aren’t you drinking?”‘ she told 9Honey. Since quitting booze for good, Olivia said she’s never felt more comfortable and confident

From the time she started drinking in her teens, the model said she would often black out for half the night and wake up riddled with ‘debilitating’ anxiety and a sense of dread that sometimes lingered for three days.

Olivia said drinking also led to ‘silly’ fights with her husband-to-be, Justin Mckeone.

On the morning of Sunday, May 1, 2021, Olivia woke up after a night on the town and made the decision to give up booze. 

From the time she started drinking in her teens, the model said she would often black out for half the night and wake up riddled with ‘debilitating’ anxiety and a sense of dread that sometimes lingered for three days 

The speech pathologist, who was crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2017, said drinking left her anxious and led to ‘silly’ fights with her now-husband, Justin Mckeone (right)

‘It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back,’ she told news.com.au.

‘This was happening way too often and when I reflected on it that day when I was hungover – the common denominator here is alcohol.’

While Olivia initially planned to take just a few weeks off drinking, she quickly noticed the many benefits of living a sober lifestyle.

The blonde beauty said she no longer suffers from headaches, sleeps better and almost instantly noticed an improvement in her mental health.

Her physical strength also improved, with Olivia feeling ‘stronger and more efficient’ in her workouts after just two weeks on the dry. 

While Olivia initially planned to take just a few weeks off drinking, she quickly noticed the many benefits of living a sober lifestyle 

She has since embraced sobriety as a long-term lifestyle choice and encourages others to reconsider their relationship with alcohol, just like she did 

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She has since embraced sobriety as a long-term lifestyle choice and encourages others to reconsider their relationship with alcohol, just like she did.

Olivia believes education around alcoholism is too black and white.

‘[It’s like] you either drink and you’re OK drinking or you’re an alcoholic and you shouldn’t drink and there’s no in between, but that’s not true,’ she said.

‘I think there’s so much grey area that is not spoken about, particularly in Australia.’

And Olivia is not alone. 

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal more than a quarter of Australians – 28.9 percent – are mostly abstaining from alcohol, while a further 9.5 percent are drinking less than they were this time last year.

Over the past four years, the number of ex-drinkers in Australia rose from 1.5million to 1.9million.

The growing sober scene is largely fuelled by hordes of Instagram influencers who tout the benefits of their alcohol-free lifestyles online, and the hospitality industry is taking note.

Over the last two years Aussies have seen the development of non-alcoholic beverage options become available both at venues and in bottle shops

Australia’s first-ever non-alcoholic bar opened its doors in Melbourne on May 1, 2021, pouring a menu of more than 100 alcohol-free beers, wines and cocktails to teetotal punters.

Australia’s first-ever non-alcoholic bar and bottle shop (pictured) opened its doors in Melbourne on May 1, 2021

Brunswick Aces bar is designed for anyone who is living or entertaining the thought of a sober lifestyle

Brunswick Aces in Brunswick East, six kilometres north of the CBD, was designed for anyone who is living or entertaining the thought of a sober lifestyle.

Brand director Stuart Henshall said the ‘inconsistent’ stocking of non-alcoholic products in traditional bars led to a stand off between venues and consumers.

‘People don’t know where stocks what – venues say we don’t stock alcohol-free options because nobody asks for them, but sober consumers say they don’t go out because of the lack of these options,’ Mr Henshall previously told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We wanted to create somewhere for people to come and also to prove to traditional venues that there is demand for non-alcoholic products.’

CEO and co-founder Stephen Lawrence said he has been ‘inundated with messages’ from sober drinkers from Perth to Sydney, as well as overseas.

For support for alcohol-related problems and addiction you can contact Turning Point Services, or one of the many other services available, speak to your GP, local health service or call a helpline. 

There are trained telephone counsellors available in all Australian states and territories.