AFTER winning five medals, including two gold, at the Beijing Olympics, Libby Trickett could be forgiven for having a few celebratory drinks.

But the swimmer has pledged to go "Ocsober" this month to help educate children and young adults about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

On a break from swimming until December, Trickett and her husband and fellow swimmer, Luke, have joined a growing list of sports stars, celebrities and TV personalities who have taken up the challenge to stay dry for 30 days.

Although Trickett was making the most of her golden girl status at A-list parties such as the David Jones American Express card launch in Darlinghurst last week, she maintained she wouldn't be tempted by the champagne and cocktails on offer.

She's so committed to the month of sponsored sobriety, she said she wouldn't even choose to use a "leave pass", which allows Ocsober participants to drink on a maximum of two nights during the month.

"It sounds funny at 23, but I'm all for getting on the soft drinks," she said.

"It's so important for kids to know it's not necessary to drink to have fun because there's plenty of other ways to have a good time."

As an elite athlete, Trickett said people generally understand her sobriety when she's training or competing.

But drinking is such a part of Australian culture, abstaining is generally considered unusual, especially at functions and parties. "If you don't drink, people assume you're pregnant or a recovering alcoholic," she said.

The money raised for Ocsober will go to Life Education, a non-profit organisation that teaches children about drugs and alcohol by visiting primary schools.

Life Education chief executive Jay Bacik said people could start their sponsored sobriety any time during October.

Every $7 raised will help teach one more Australian child about the effects of drug and alcohol use through Life Education's national network of mobile classrooms.