Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms Podcast By Denise Hamilton-Mace | Mindful Drinking Mentor Writer Speaker & Coach cover art

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

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

By: Denise Hamilton-Mace | Mindful Drinking Mentor Writer Speaker & Coach
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**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.

© 2026 Low No Drinker Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 169. 20 Small Shifts That Changed How I Drink (5 Years In)

    169. 20 Small Shifts That Changed How I Drink (5 Years In)
    Mar 25 2026

    Hey, let's text 🤗

    Are you waiting for the big lightbulb moment that finally makes changing your drinking feel easy? Five years in, I can tell you that moment probably isn't coming. And honestly? That's fine. Because it turns out it's not the sweeping life overhauls that make the real difference. It's the small stuff.

    To mark five years of drinking differently, I'm sharing 20 of the little habits, mindset shifts and quiet decisions that have genuinely shaped the way I drink today. Some of them will surprise you. Some might make you laugh. A few might make you think. And none of them involves a strict set of rules or a particularly impressive amount of willpower.

    If you've been on this journey for a while and feel like you're still figuring it out — we all are. So this one's for you.

    0:00 Why Small Habits Matter

    2:41 I Don't Count My Drinks

    3:03 No Negotiation

    4:18 I Tell the People Who Matter

    4:44 I Keep it Simple

    5:13 When I'm Done, I'm Done

    5:40 No Guilt

    6:06 I Pay it Forward

    7:00 I Don't Show Off

    7:50 I Eat

    8:19 I Sleep

    8:52 Check Menus

    9:17 Have a Backup Plan

    10:07 Healthy Comparisons

    11:06 I Treat Myself

    11:44 I Fantasise A Life Less Intoxicated

    13:13 Not Expecting Perfection

    13:30 Flexibility

    14:50 I Don't Drink To Feel

    15:43 I Put Myself First


    Also mentioned:

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.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


    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.
    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • 168. Drinks 101: Why Is There So Little Alcohol-Free Beer on Draught?

    168. Drinks 101: Why Is There So Little Alcohol-Free Beer on Draught?
    Mar 23 2026

    Hey, let's text 🤗

    There's nothing quite like a proper pint. So why is it still so difficult to find a good alcohol-free one on draught at your local?

    The answer comes down to more than just slow adoption — there's real science and real commercial pressure behind it. The good news is that things are moving, and there's actually something practical you can do about it right now.

    1:21 The Challenge for Pubs

    2:37 Who’s Doing Draft Alcohol-Free Well?

    3:23 Ask For What You Want

    Dive deeper with:

    Ep# 117: Inside the Asahi / Peroni 15% Alcohol-Free Mission

    On Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/117-inside-the-asahi-peroni-15-alcohol-free-mission/id1701338793?i=1000734001475

    On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/7s4TA9XTUfswRGnp3nfbJt?si=bec8464dea564f06

    On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGt5rwMA

    & Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.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


    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.
    Show more Show less
    5 mins
  • 167. 5 Words That Keep You Drinking More Than You Want To

    167. 5 Words That Keep You Drinking More Than You Want To
    Mar 18 2026

    Hey, let's text 🤗

    What if the biggest obstacle between you and actually drinking less isn't willpower, habit, or social pressure — but the words you're using to talk to yourself about it?

    This episode borrows a little wisdom from the world of NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) to shine a light on five ordinary, everyday words that are quietly working against your moderation goals.

    These aren't obscure or complicated — they're the kind of language that slips into your self-talk without a second thought, because it's just how we've always spoken. And yet, when it comes to changing the way you drink in midlife, these tiny words can have an outsized impact on how your brain processes — and follows through on — change.

    Once you know what to listen for, you'll clock them constantly.

    2:18 What NLP Has to Do With Changing Your Drinking

    3:02 Your Brain is Wired for Survival

    4:46 Why Trying Doesn't Work

    6:54 Wishing & Hoping Is Not A Plan

    8:46 There is No Should

    10:44 Swap But For And

    13:17 From 'I Can’t' To 'What If I Can?'

    15:53 Practice The Reframes And Move On


    Best episode to listen to next:
    ep#153. Are You Too Old For Mindful Drinking? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2229527/episodes/18562254

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.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


    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.
    Show more Show less
    18 mins
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