Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
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 love
- You're looking for practical advice that fits your demanding life, not another wellness overhaul
- You recognise that coasting with mid-strength drinks, zebra-striping, or bookending your evening with something non-alcoholic are all valid strategies
- You 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.
Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
Mindful Drinking Advent 14: Your Mid-Month Check-In
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator
On Day Fourteen of the Mindful Drinking Advent, it’s time for a mid-December check-in.
This episode invites you to pause, take stock, and notice what’s genuinely different for you this year — better sleep, clearer mornings, fewer regrets, or simply fewer moments you wish you could rewind.
You’ll reflect on what’s working, tweak what isn’t, and remind yourself that small changes still count.
No pressure, no perfection — just honest awareness and smarter adjustments for the rest of the season.
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You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com
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🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/
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🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset
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🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator
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🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/
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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.
Hello, hello, and welcome to day 14 of our mindful drinking audio advent. Today we are doing a little mid-month check-in. You are uh roughly halfway through the Christmas chaos, just over halfway through, actually. So now is a good time to check in with yourself and see what's working for you and what still needs a little bit more of your attention. So far, you've navigated work drinks, uh social pressure, long lunches, drinks and catch-ups with friends, maybe you've seen a bit of family, and you've likely dealt with uh one or two high-pressure situations, some of those uh just one more moment or go on, it's Christmas. So, what I'd like you to do today is just to pause for a moment and take stock and have a think about what feels different for you this year so far from previous Christmas times. If you've been following along on the Advent and hopefully actioning some of the uh advice and techniques and thought processes that we've been going through together, hopefully you've noticed a few positive changes. Things like perhaps you have drunk less so far this Christmas than you usually do, in which case that is fantastic. Maybe because of that you've noticed that your sleep is uh a little bit better. Maybe your mornings feel uh a little less fraught and stressed, uh, and more like you've had a proper restful night. Uh perhaps you feel more energized to go about your days, maybe more positive, more optimistic about work, about the social events that you have chosen to attend. Maybe you've had a little bit more patience with your kids or with your other half, because we all know that uh we need some of that at home sometimes. Uh, more clarity in meetings, more of yourself left by the end of whatever type of day you're having. Or maybe, maybe it's not that big. Maybe what you've noticed is smaller things, or perhaps you haven't even noticed them until now. Maybe you haven't fallen asleep in a taxi on the way home at three o'clock in the morning. Maybe you uh haven't sent texts that you regret. Uh, maybe you haven't woken up with one of those cringe, oh my god, I can't believe I did that moments. You know, all of these things count, whether it is the inclusion of more positives or the elimination of some negatives. So, what I'd like you to do today is just take some time out, take a moment to do a quick reflection. What is working? Uh, what's not working? What have we covered that isn't quite right for you? And what could you do differently or better that fits in more with who you are? What's surprised you about your journey and this time so far? I want you to celebrate the wins, okay? Whether that is a better uh better night's sleep, whether that's a clearer head, uh, maybe you haven't spent as much money as you usually do. Whatever it is, I want you to notice it and I want you to celebrate it. Uh, on the rare occasions I manage to drag my backside out for a run. I celebrate every kilometer because that to me is a win, even though it's a tiny distance in comparison to the people I see zooming past me at high speed. Sometimes the small wins are the ones that we need to celebrate the loudest. And then, of course, to adjust where needed, if things aren't working, if things aren't quite right for you, if you've been trying zebra striping but you end up losing track, um, then maybe switch to bookending. If you've been trying bookending but you find that you have too many drinks in the middle, then maybe switch to coasting or to pacing, um, or just having some nights completely alcohol-free. Whatever the alternatives are, give them a try until you find what works best for you. Now, today, when you click your mindful drinking advent, you'll be taken to day 14 where you can see my curated list of drink recommendations for the festive season and the discount codes that go with them. So make sure you go and check that out. And I will see you tomorrow for day 15. Until then, cheers to a Christmas less intoxicated.
