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

By Denise Hamilton-Mace | Mindful Drinking Mentor Writer, Speaker & Coach

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Description

**A Spotify 'Rising Star' show** How do I drink less without quitting completely? What's the difference between low, no and light alcohol drinks? Why can't I drink like I used to? 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.


Episode Date
181. Is Moderation Really Harder Than Quitting Alcohol?
Jun 17, 2026
180. Why Alcohol Tastes Different When You Drink Less
Jun 10, 2026
179. Motivation, Discipline, Willpower: Which One Actually Helps You Drink Less?
Jun 03, 2026
178. Hangovers, Hormones & Holding Your Ground: An Honest Midlife Drinking Conversation
May 27, 2026
177. 3 Morning Habits That Make Alcohol Moderation Harder
May 20, 2026
176. The Hidden Biology Behind Brutal Hangovers After 40
May 13, 2026
175. 6 Causes, 6 Questions: What's Really Driving Your Over-Drinking?
May 06, 2026
174. Why Are You Waiting for Rock Bottom?
Apr 29, 2026
173. Alcohol Cravings Don't Last As Long As You Think (And 4 Steps To Take When One Hits)
Apr 22, 2026
172. 6 Uncomfortably Honest Reasons to Avoid Low/No Drinks
Apr 15, 2026
171. The Limiting Beliefs Keeping You Stuck in the Same Drinking Patterns
Apr 08, 2026
170. Hangxiety to Boredom: 5 Easy-to-Miss Signs You’re Ready to Drink Differently
Apr 01, 2026
169. 20 Small Shifts That Changed How I Drink (5 Years In)
Mar 25, 2026
168. Drinks 101: Why Is There So Little Alcohol-Free Beer on Draught?
Mar 23, 2026
167. 5 Words That Keep You Drinking More Than You Want To
Mar 18, 2026
166. Drinks 101: Can 0.5% Drinks Get You Drunk?
Mar 16, 2026
165. Stepping Back From Mindful Drinking to Move Forward
Mar 11, 2026
164. Drinks 101: Why Do Alcohol-Free Drinks Cost So Much?
Mar 09, 2026
163. 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About the Pros & Cons of Different Moderation Techniques
Mar 04, 2026
162. Drinks 101: CBD in Alcohol-Free Drinks
Mar 02, 2026
161. The Real Reason Your Friends Can’t Take ‘No’ for an Answer
Feb 25, 2026
160. Drinks 101: What Are Nootropics?
Feb 23, 2026
159. INSIDE THE MINDFUL DRINKING RESET: Can You Really Change Your Drinking in 4 Weeks?
Feb 18, 2026
158. Drinks 101: What Are Adaptogens?
Feb 16, 2026
157. 8 Things I’d Tell You About Mindful Drinking If I Wasn't Afraid to Hurt Your Feelings
Feb 11, 2026
156. Drinks 101: Functional Drinks
Feb 09, 2026
155. Identity Crisis: Does Drinking Less Mean Becoming Less You?
Feb 04, 2026
154. Introducing Drinks 101: Making Low/No Make Sense
Feb 02, 2026
153. Are You Too Old For Mindful Drinking?
Jan 28, 2026
152. Reduce, Replace, R… The Third R of Mindful Drinking
Jan 21, 2026
151. Beating Quitter’s Day! The Dry January Myths That Sabotage Your Success
Jan 14, 2026
150. Dry January: The Pros, The Cons & The Sunnyside Perspective
Jan 07, 2026
Mindful Drinking New Year’s Eve: End the Year on Your Terms
Dec 31, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 26: Boxing Day: The Second Coming of Christmas
Dec 26, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 25: Merry Christmas — Enjoy the Day!
Dec 25, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 24: Christmas Eve - Rest Now, Enjoy Tomorrow
Dec 24, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 23: Travel Tactics for a Clear Arrival
Dec 23, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 22: Hosting with Ease and Inclusion
Dec 22, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 21: Redefining “Treat Yourself”
Dec 21, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 20: Surviving the Chaos of Family Without Drinking Christmas Away
Dec 20, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 19: Set Yourself Up to Succeed at Home
Dec 19, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 18: Wake Up Winning (But Don’t Be That Guy)
Dec 18, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 17: You Don’t Need Dutch Courage
Dec 17, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 16: Finding Alcohol-Free Drinks You Genuinely Love
Dec 16, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 15: Protect Your Sleep, Protect Yourself
Dec 15, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 14: Your Mid-Month Check-In
Dec 14, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 13: What To Do When Last Night Went Off-Piste
Dec 13, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 12: The Truth About That First Drink
Dec 12, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 11: How to Handle Those “Just Have One” Moments
Dec 11, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 10: Mull Everything — Festive Is a Feeling, Not an ABV
Dec 10, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 9: The Long Lunch Survival Guide
Dec 09, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 8: Your Moderation Techniques for December
Dec 08, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 7: The Sunday Night Calendar Audit You Actually Need
Dec 07, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 6: The Luxury of a Hangover-Free Saturday
Dec 06, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 5: When Every Night Feels Like Friday Night
Dec 05, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 4: Surviving the First Big Christmas Party — The ‘Ready, Steady, Go’ Plan
Dec 04, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 3: The After-Work Wind Down (Without Reflex-Drinking)
Dec 03, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 2: Bubbles Done Right
Dec 02, 2025
Mindful Drinking Advent 1: Design Your Christmas (Before December Does It for You)
Dec 01, 2025
122: 18 Quick-Fire, Awkward (& Sometimes Funny) Truths About Your Sober-ish Christmas
Nov 26, 2025
121: Fat Jabs 2. A Gateway to Sobriety or A Dangerous Shortcut?
Nov 19, 2025
120: Willpower Won't Get You Through Christmas: 4 Steps to Change Your Drinking Beliefs
Nov 12, 2025
119: Going Daily for December
Nov 11, 2025
118: Why You Can’t Drink Like You Used To
Nov 05, 2025
117: Inside the Asahi / Peroni 15% Alcohol-Free Mission
Oct 29, 2025
116: Mindful Drinking Nights Out: The 3-Stage Strategy for Success
Oct 22, 2025
115: Why Your Partner Struggles When You Start Drinking Less
Oct 15, 2025
114: £800 Million Lost, Over-55s Join In & Why "Drinking Less" Is the Wrong Term
Oct 08, 2025
113: Thinking of Doing Sober October? There's a Better Way
Oct 01, 2025
112: Rejected For Moderating by Friends, Family or Colleagues
Sep 24, 2025
111: Drinking on Autopilot: How Daily Stress Fuels Your Evening Habits
Sep 17, 2025
110: 7 Myths About Moderation That Stop You Drinking Mindfully
Sep 10, 2025
109: £62,899 on Booze in a Lifetime
Sep 03, 2025
108: Costs Pt1: What You’re Really Paying For
Aug 27, 2025
107: Masculinity, Mental Health, and Moderation with Performance Coach Ben Hill
Aug 20, 2025
106: Introvert, Extrovert, Ambivert: 4 Steps to Match Your Drinking Style to Your Social Energy
Aug 13, 2025
105: Defending Your Right to Moderate in an All-or-Nothing World
Aug 06, 2025
104: 5 Secrets to Better Mocktails at Home with Lila Volkas
Jul 30, 2025
103: No One Tells You This About Drinking Less in Midlife
Jul 23, 2025
102: "No One Wanted to Work with Me" - Athletic Brewing's Bill Shufelt
Jul 16, 2025
Welcome to the New Show!
Jul 09, 2025
101: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Starting Your Dry Month Challenge
Jul 09, 2025
100: Episodes, 15 Questions, 1 major update
Jul 02, 2025
#99. Between Teetotal and Tipsy: The Lost Art of Small Beer
Jun 25, 2025
#98. Lyre’s: The Honest Truth
Jun 18, 2025
#97. Adults Only? Are Alcohol-Free Drinks Safe for Kids?
Jun 13, 2025
#96. Get That "One or Two Pint" Feeling with Impossibrew’s Social Blend
Jun 11, 2025
#95. Alcohol-Free Wine vs AF Beer: It's Not a Fair Fight
Jun 06, 2025
#94. Lifted: The UK's First High Protein, Alcohol-Free Lager
Jun 04, 2025
#93. Stop Asking If I Still Drink Alcohol!
May 30, 2025
#92. “Turning my mess into my message” - Laura Silverman, Zero Proof Nation
May 28, 2025
#91. Be the Voice of Low No Nation
May 23, 2025
#90. How Lucky Saint Is Brewing Beer You Can Believe In (Even at Lunchtime)
May 21, 2025
#89. How I Got It All Wrong at a 5-Year-Old's Birthday Party
May 16, 2025
#88. Sober Sound System Ibiza: Changing Raving on the No.1 Party Island
May 14, 2025
#87. The Uncomfortable Truth: 4 Reasons Some Alcohol-Free Drinks Fall Flat
May 09, 2025
#86. 50/50: The Cocktail Box Company Bridging Alcohol-Free & Alcohol-Full
May 07, 2025
#85. Move Over Gen Z: How Midlife Moderators are Changing the Drinking Game
May 02, 2025
#84. 5 Hours of Sober Clubbing Bliss with The House of Happiness
Apr 30, 2025
#83. You Can Drink Your Own Way
Apr 25, 2025
#82. “I Thought Alcohol-Free Beer Was Disgusting” How Jump Ship’s Founder Changed Her Own Mind
Apr 23, 2025
#81. Powerful Mindset Shifts That Will Transform Your Experience with Low/No Drinks – Pt2
Apr 18, 2025
#80. 12 Years in the Making: From Seedlip to Seasn to Sylva to Shandy with Ben Branson
Apr 16, 2025
#79. Powerful Mindset Shifts That Will Transform Your Experience with Low/No Drinks – Pt1
Apr 11, 2025
#78. How Your Tastes Change When You Start Drinking Low/No
Apr 09, 2025
#77. Ethical Consumerism Meets Mindful Drinking with Sea Change Wines
Apr 04, 2025
#76. Beyond Bananas! 12 Everyday Foods That Contain Alcohol
Apr 02, 2025
#75. Beyond Wine: Creating Category-Less Drinks with Muri
Mar 28, 2025
#74. 50% of Drinkers Prefer Going for Two: How ‘Coasting’ Is Changing the Way We Moderate
Mar 26, 2025
#73. America's 1st Non-Alc Bottle Shop, Celebrity Brands & THC Drinks
Mar 20, 2025
#72. The Problem with Naming Alcohol-Free Spirits
Mar 18, 2025
#71. Award-Winning Sober Bartender's Guide to Non-Alc Spirits & Cocktails
Mar 13, 2025
#70. Mocktail: The Dirty Word of Alcohol-Free Drinking
Mar 11, 2025
#69. The Fungi Consultant: Do Functional Mushrooms Work in Low/No Drinks?
Mar 06, 2025
#68. The No.1 Mistake Made by New Low/No Drinkers
Mar 04, 2025
#67. MUUSH: The Functional Mushroom Elixir Served Hot, Cold & in Mocktails
Feb 27, 2025
#66. Active vs Passive Moderation Techniques
Feb 25, 2025
#65. No Compromise with ZENO Alcohol-Liberated Wines
Feb 20, 2025
#64. What The Heck Do Functional Beverages Even Do (& do they work)?
Feb 18, 2025
#63. What Are Zebra Striping and Bookending (& Do They Work)?
Feb 13, 2025
#62. What Exactly is a Unit & How Many Are in My Favourite Drinks?
Feb 11, 2025
#61. Alcohol-Free Spirit-Forward Events with Third Place Bar
Feb 06, 2025
#60. What Are Alcohol-Free RTDs? (& Where Can I Find Them?)
Feb 04, 2025
#59. Plant-Powered AF Brewing: On Beer
Jan 30, 2025
#58. What Do I Do After Dry January?
Jan 28, 2025
#57. Why Non-Alc is Boring: Drink The Pathfinder
Jan 23, 2025
#56. The ABVs of Low/No Alcohol Drinks
Jan 21, 2025
#55. Rebels0.0: Launching Switzerland’s 1st Alcohol-Free Brand
Jan 16, 2025
#54. Introducing Low No Drinker FAQ
Jan 15, 2025
#53. Creating A Household Legacy with Noughty AF Wines & Amanda Thomson
Jan 09, 2025
#52. Mash Gang/Dionilife with Damian McKinney
Jan 02, 2025
#51. Taking a Christmas Break
Dec 26, 2024
#50 Eisberg Wine: Dealcoholisation & Doubling Capacity
Dec 20, 2024
#49. San Francisco’s Ocean Beach Cafe
Dec 13, 2024
#48. Wild Idol: Naturally Alcohol-Free, Premium, Sparkling Wine
Dec 05, 2024
#47. Psychotropic-Curious with High & Dry Founder Daniel Rowntree
Nov 29, 2024
#46. Double Dutch Mixers: Supporting Low/No Drinkers & Women in Hospitality
Nov 21, 2024
#45. 5 New Functional Spirits from Smiling Wolf
Nov 14, 2024
#44. From Whole Foods To Harrods: Creating Diversity in Non-Alc Cocktails with Savyll
Nov 08, 2024
#43. Inspiration & innovation with NON World Wine Alternatives
Nov 01, 2024
#42. Behind the Scenes with the Co-Founders of The World Alcohol-Free Awards
Oct 25, 2024
#41. Session Gin: A 25% Gin for the Modern Drinker
Oct 18, 2024
#40. What Low/No Drinkers Are Really Saying
Oct 11, 2024
#39. Bolle: The Only Double-Fermented Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine in the World!
Oct 03, 2024
#38. 80/20 Living with MoodyBrew Functional Adult Drinks
Sep 27, 2024
#37. You Don't Need A Sad Story (Don't Do What I Did)
Sep 21, 2024
#36. Launching A Brand New Non-Alcoholic Cider with Chance Clean Cider
Sep 14, 2024
#35. Reimagining Classic Cocktails with Talonmore Scottish AF Spirit
Sep 07, 2024
#34. Making 6% Red Wine with Co-Founder Russell Lamb
Aug 31, 2024
#33. GNISTA's 'Not' Spirits & 'Not' Red Wines with Erika Ollén
Aug 24, 2024
#32. Exploring Everleaf: From Conservation to Cocktails with Founder Paul Mathew
Aug 17, 2024
#31. Alcohol-Free Drinks: Triggers or Lifesavers?
Aug 09, 2024
#30. REAL: The Sparkling Tea for Wine Enthusiasts
Aug 03, 2024
#29. The Rise and Rise of Mocktails with Pooja Sharma-Jones
Jul 28, 2024
#28. 1,500 AF Beers & Counting, with Martin Dixon
Jul 19, 2024
#27. Meeting the Botanist: The Tea-Infused 'Function-Ale'
Jul 12, 2024
#26. Understanding the Costs of Low/No-&-Light: Why Alcohol-Free Drinks Aren't Cheap
Jul 09, 2024
#25. £12k Bottling Disaster with Carouse Alcohol-Free Spirit Founder Steph Elswood
Jul 05, 2024
#24. Pubs & Pints with Big Drop Brewing Co-Founder Rob Fink
Jun 27, 2024
#23. Fighting Back: Alcoholism, Monopolies & Love with Myth & Goat Founder Colette Safhill
Jun 21, 2024
#22. Unpopular opinion? The Moderating Middle
Jun 14, 2024
#21. DECEM: From MasterChef Finalist to 10% Spirit Distiller
Jun 08, 2024
#19. You Don't Have to be An Alcoholic to Rethink Your Drinking
May 24, 2024
#18. Sober Curious or Mindful Drinker: What's the Difference?
May 16, 2024
#17. The Future of Alcohol-Free Drinks in Bars
May 10, 2024
#16. Exploring Lighter Spirits with Quarter Proof 15%
May 03, 2024
#15. Crossip: The Zero-Strength Spirit Made for Full-Strength Drinkers
Apr 24, 2024
#14. Unfiltered Journeys in Fermentation with Ama Brewery
Apr 15, 2024
#13. Fat Jabs & Their Impact on Drinking Low/No
Apr 11, 2024
#12. Redefining Scottish Alcohol-Free Spirits with Feragaia
Apr 04, 2024
#11. Understanding the UK Low/Alcohol-Free/Non-Alcoholic Labelling System
Mar 21, 2024
#10. The Quest for Inclusive Mixology with All the Bitter AF Cocktail Bitters
Mar 15, 2024
#9. Dealcoholised Vs Alcohol-Free Wine Making with Wednesday's Domaine
Mar 08, 2024
#8 From Alcohol Sales Rep to Novice AF Brewer - Clean Break Brewing
Feb 29, 2024
#7. Alcohol-Free Brewing meets Mushroom Magic with Fungtn
Feb 21, 2024
#6. Lecap: The 5% Rosé Wine
Oct 31, 2023
#5. Meeting Gen!us 3% Beer Co-Founder Jason Clarke
Oct 05, 2023
#4. Going International with South Africa's Mahala Botanical AF Spirit
Sep 08, 2023
#3. Good Karma, Good Beer with Founder Steve Sailopal
Sep 02, 2023
#2. La Maison Wellness founder Camille Vidal, aka Mindfully Cami
Aug 19, 2023
#1. Movie Inspiration with Unltd. Founder Johnny Johnson
Aug 07, 2023