Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms

Denise Hamilton-Mace

How do I drink less without quitting completely? What's the difference between alcohol-free, low alcohol, and no alcohol drinks? Why can't I handle alcohol like I used to? How do I cut back when everyone around me is still drinking? Why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much? If you're in your 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond and asking these questions, this is your podcast. Welcome to the essential show for midlife adults who want to drink less, on their own terms—without the pressure to quit completely, follow rigid rules, or label themselves as sober. I'm Denise Hamilton-Mace, your mindful drinking mentor, magazine editor, writer and public speaker on all things low, no and light. Each week, I help stressed parents and busy midlife adults navigate their relationship with alcohol through practical approaches grounded in real-world experience and behaviour change strategy, not willpower or wellness culture What you'll get: Mindful Moderation Solo Episodes – Deep-dives answering the questions that matter to sophisticated drinkers who want to moderate smartly: How do I cut back when my partner still drinks at home?Why do premium alcohol-free drinks cost the same as full-strength versions?How do I navigate social situations when I'm the only one moderating?What really works: willpower vs. strategy? Drinks 101 Mini-Series – Short educational episodes demystifying the confusing world of low and no alcohol drinks: What does ABV actually mean?What's the real difference between non-alcoholic, alcohol-free, low alcohol, and light beer?How are alcohol-free drinks made?Which drinks are safe for pregnancy, driving, or recovery? Meet the Makers – Intimate conversations with the founders, brewers, distillers, and visionaries creating the premium drinks and experiences that support your moderation goals. This podcast is for you if: You want drinks that taste like the ones you already loveYou're looking for practical advice that fits your demanding life, not another wellness overhaulYou recognise that coasting with mid-strength drinks, zebra-striping, or bookending your evening with something non-alcoholic are all valid strategiesYou want better mornings without giving up celebrating life's special moments This isn't about going completely dry or reinventing yourself. It's about keeping energy for what matters most: family, health, career, and living life on your own terms. Join the moderation revolution happening in midlife – because while Gen Z gets the headlines, you're the one actually doing it.

  1. 154. Introducing Drinks 101: Making Low/No Make Sense

    1 DAY AGO

    154. Introducing Drinks 101: Making Low/No Make Sense

    Text me your message Choosing low, no and light drinks to support your mindful drinking lifestyle shouldn’t feel like an exam.  And yet here we are — staring at menus, shelves and online shops trying to work out what *any* of it actually means. So this is a quick heads-up episode to introduce *Drinks 101* A new short-form mini-series coming to the Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife podcast. Rather than replacing our regular Wednesday mindset time together, Drinks 101 will be an extra mini-sode each week where we get practical. Each episode will be less than 5 minutes and will focus on one specific thing you keep bumping into when you’re trying to drink differently, such as: * What does “de-alcoholised” actually mean? * What are functional drinks, adaptogens, and nootropics? * Are 0.5 drinks still alcohol-free And, of course, * Why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much? No judgment about when, how or why you drink. Just clear explanations so you can: * Order without feeling awkward * Buy without second-guessing yourself * Choose drinks because they *taste good* — not because you feel you “should”   Think of Drinks 101 as a reference library you can dip into whenever you need it — especially if you’re new to low, no or light drinking and everything still feels unnecessarily complicated. You’ll see these episodes clearly marked in the feed as ‘Drinks 101’. Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss them. === You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com === 🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack https://lownodrinker.substack.com/ === 🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset === 🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator === 🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits https://www.lownodrinker.com/ === *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    3 min
  2. 153. Are You Too Old For Mindful Drinking?

    6 DAYS AGO

    153. Are You Too Old For Mindful Drinking?

    Text me your message Midlife drinking habits can feel set in stone after decades of established routines, but that doesn't mean change is impossible.  In this episode, I explore whether you're ever too old to start moderating your drinking, tackling the unique challenges we face in our 40s, 50s, and beyond. From breaking ingrained habits to navigating peer pressure with long-established friend groups.  I share the inspiring story of Eamon, a 77-year-old Irishman who removed alcohol from his life after six decades of drinking, proving that neuroplasticity and the ability to make positive change don't disappear with age.  We look at what mindful drinking actually means (spoiler: it's not meditation before every sip), how to communicate your choices to partners and friends without needing their permission, and why the challenges we face around alcohol are fundamentally different from those of the so-called “mindful-drinking generation”. Gen Z ain’t got nothing on us Gen Xers!   0:00 Going Live Gone Wrong 3:48 We're Not 20 Anymore 5:03 Back To Basics: What Mindful Drinking Means 8:54 Drink & Let Drink 11:42 Old Dog; New Tricks 15:10 Midlife Peer Pressure Looks Different 17:33 Telling Friends & Family 19:35 You Don't Need Permission, But You Do Need To Share Your Why 23:47 The 5pm Fix Download the 5pm Fix - https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com === You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com === 🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack https://lownodrinker.substack.com/ === 🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset === 🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator === 🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits https://www.lownodrinker.com/ === *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    27 min
  3. 152. Reduce, Replace, R… The Third R of Mindful Drinking

    21 JAN

    152. Reduce, Replace, R… The Third R of Mindful Drinking

    Text me your message Everyone bangs on about the first two Rs of mindful drinking – reduce and replace. But what about the third?  This week, I'm tackling the missing piece of the moderation puzzle that nobody talks about: remove. I'm not talking about removing alcohol entirely (unless that's your goal).  I'm talking about removing all the negative rubbish that comes with choosing to drink differently – the shame, the embarrassment, the social pressure, and that perfectionist trap that tells you one slip-up means total failure.  Because without all three Rs working together, you're trying to balance on a two-legged stool, and we all know how that ends. 0:01 The Problem With A Two-Legged Stool 1:36 The First R: Reduce 2:47 The Second R: Replace 5:18 The Third R: Remove 6:56 Ditching Shame And Embarrassment 7:57 Can't Drink Like A 20 Year Old 9:54 Social Pressure And Changing Friendships 11:48 Escaping Perfectionism And Binary Thinking 14:00 Flexible Choices On A Night Out 16:21 The Three Rs & Meaningful Change 17:05 Get More From Me On Substack   === You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com === 🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack https://lownodrinker.substack.com/ === 🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset === 🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator === 🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits https://www.lownodrinker.com/ === *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    19 min
  4. 151. Beating Quitter’s Day! The Dry January Myths That Sabotage Your Success

    14 JAN

    151. Beating Quitter’s Day! The Dry January Myths That Sabotage Your Success

    Text me your message We're smack bang between Quitter's Day and Blue Monday - that dreaded mid-January slump when Dry January motivation nosedives and everything feels a bit meh.  You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m diving into the top Dry January myths that make the challenge feel harder than it needs to be—like thinking you have to be completely sober, believing one drink means you’ve failed, or assuming your social life is over. Discover how these all-or-nothing beliefs can sabotage your motivation, and learn practical tips for bouncing back and resetting Dry January without guilt or going back to day one.  If you’re ready to challenge these Dry January myths and reclaim your motivation, this episode is for you! 0:01 Quitter’s Day And Blue Monday 2:52 Why All Or Nothing Backfires 4:29 Damp January 7:14 Reframing Slip Ups As Data 9:11 What Success Looks Like After January 10:22 Keeping Your Social Life Alive 13:23 When You Do Drink More - Reset Now, Not Next Monday 16:22 Reconnect to Your Why 18:49 Listener Milestones   Also mentioned: ep#63: What Are Zebra Striping and Bookending (& Do They Work)? ep#150: Dry January: The Pros, The Cons & The Sunnyside Perspective === You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com === 🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack https://lownodrinker.substack.com/ === 🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset === 🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator === 🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits https://www.lownodrinker.com/ === *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    24 min
  5. 150. Dry January: The Pros, The Cons & The Sunnyside Perspective

    7 JAN

    150. Dry January: The Pros, The Cons & The Sunnyside Perspective

    Text me your message Nick Allen, co-founder and CEO of Sunnyside, joins me to explore why traditional Dry January might be setting us up to fail—and what we can do about it. We discuss Sunnyside's "dry-ish January" approach that prioritises sustainable habit change over perfectionism, examining why February often sees people drinking more than ever after a month of white-knuckling through abstinence. Nick shares insights on breaking decades-long drinking patterns, the limitations of willpower, and why having a system matters more than having goals. We also touch on emerging medical options like Naltrexone for those struggling with biochemical cravings, and how bringing awareness to your drinking triggers during January can create lasting change throughout the year. 0:00 New Year, New Listeners 4:05 Nick and the Sunnyside story 6:46 Dry January Pros 10:19 Dry January Cons 12:00 The Willpower, Habits & Perfection Challenge 19:00 You Don't Have to Start on the 1st 21:24 Taking it forward 27:47 Breaking Decades Of Habit 29:53 Medication As Another Tool 35:22 The BBQ-Q WE CHAT ABOUT Sunnyside https://get.sunnyside.co/new3/ WE ALSO TALK ABOUT: Best Days Brewing https://bestdaybrewing.com/ === You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com === 🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack https://lownodrinker.substack.com/ === 🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset === 🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator === 🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits https://www.lownodrinker.com/ === *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    39 min
5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

How do I drink less without quitting completely? What's the difference between alcohol-free, low alcohol, and no alcohol drinks? Why can't I handle alcohol like I used to? How do I cut back when everyone around me is still drinking? Why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much? If you're in your 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond and asking these questions, this is your podcast. Welcome to the essential show for midlife adults who want to drink less, on their own terms—without the pressure to quit completely, follow rigid rules, or label themselves as sober. I'm Denise Hamilton-Mace, your mindful drinking mentor, magazine editor, writer and public speaker on all things low, no and light. Each week, I help stressed parents and busy midlife adults navigate their relationship with alcohol through practical approaches grounded in real-world experience and behaviour change strategy, not willpower or wellness culture What you'll get: Mindful Moderation Solo Episodes – Deep-dives answering the questions that matter to sophisticated drinkers who want to moderate smartly: How do I cut back when my partner still drinks at home?Why do premium alcohol-free drinks cost the same as full-strength versions?How do I navigate social situations when I'm the only one moderating?What really works: willpower vs. strategy? Drinks 101 Mini-Series – Short educational episodes demystifying the confusing world of low and no alcohol drinks: What does ABV actually mean?What's the real difference between non-alcoholic, alcohol-free, low alcohol, and light beer?How are alcohol-free drinks made?Which drinks are safe for pregnancy, driving, or recovery? Meet the Makers – Intimate conversations with the founders, brewers, distillers, and visionaries creating the premium drinks and experiences that support your moderation goals. This podcast is for you if: You want drinks that taste like the ones you already loveYou're looking for practical advice that fits your demanding life, not another wellness overhaulYou recognise that coasting with mid-strength drinks, zebra-striping, or bookending your evening with something non-alcoholic are all valid strategiesYou want better mornings without giving up celebrating life's special moments This isn't about going completely dry or reinventing yourself. It's about keeping energy for what matters most: family, health, career, and living life on your own terms. Join the moderation revolution happening in midlife – because while Gen Z gets the headlines, you're the one actually doing it.

You Might Also Like