For Julia Rangiheuea, staying sober through Christmas meant planning for the social pressure around alcohol rather than relying on willpower alone. In a PerthNow interview published 20 December 2024, the Perth-raised reality star described her own path away from drinking and shared practical ideas for navigating festive gatherings. Her experience is personal, not a prescription for everyone in recovery.
Julia Rangiheuea’s experience with alcohol
Rangiheuea told PerthNow that she began trying to stop drinking on 2 January 2023, after alcohol had come to feel central to her identity. She described the role that social belonging and drinking culture played in her story. That account helps explain why festive events can feel difficult, but addiction does not follow one identical path for everyone.
In a separate first-person account published by Pedestrian.TV on 12 December 2024, Rangiheuea also discussed her experience. These are her reflections, not a diagnosis of readers who drink or a measure of anyone else’s recovery.
Plan support before a Christmas gathering
Dr Tina Lam, identified by PerthNow as a Senior Research Fellow at Monash Addiction Research Centre, suggested leaning on people a person trusts. Rangiheuea described accountability as important in her own early days: “The accountability piece was so big for me in those days, and it is for a lot of recovering addicts.” A trusted friend or family member can help someone feel less alone, but the kind of support that is useful will differ from person to person.
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Peer-support groups are another option. PerthNow names Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART Recovery; its article links to SMART Recovery Australia’s meetings page. Check the relevant service’s official information for current meetings and ways to take part.
Make a plan for cravings and awkward moments
Lam recommended anticipating stressful situations and having activities ready. She told PerthNow: “If you can sort of distract yourself during that intense period, the craving will sort of just dissipate.” This is a reported suggestion, not a guaranteed outcome or individualized treatment advice.
Possible ways to change the moment include starting a conversation, taking a walk or shower, or joining a family activity. If a gathering becomes uncomfortable, it may help to have a way to step away. Think ahead about the settings or interactions that feel most challenging and choose a response that is safe and realistic for you.
Choose what to say when declining alcohol
You do not owe guests a detailed explanation. Lam suggested using a broad health-related reason if someone would rather not talk about alcohol. A brief, neutral response can set a boundary without inviting a longer conversation. People who do want to explain more can do so, but it is a personal choice.
Consider an alcohol-free drink or a different way home
PerthNow presents mocktails and other alcohol-free drinks as an option for people who feel uncomfortable without a drink in hand. They may make a social setting easier for some; they are not treatment for addiction and will not suit everyone.
Planning transport can also change the situation. PerthNow suggests that driving may be useful for someone who wants a practical reason to avoid drinking, provided they can do so safely and responsibly. More generally, arranging a way to leave gives a person an option if the event stops feeling manageable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Find help beyond the event
Advice for getting through a party is not a substitute for professional care or a recovery plan suited to an individual. In a later ABC triple j Hack interview published 9 October 2025, the National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline was listed as 1800 250 015. The same hotline was listed in a 1 January 2026 interview. Confirm current contact information and availability through an official service directory before relying on it.
That January 2026 ABC report said Rangiheuea had been sober for three years at that point. It is a dated account, not confirmation of her sobriety duration today.
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