Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
**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.
Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
162. Drinks 101: CBD in Alcohol-Free Drinks
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Worried CBD drinks will get you high or trigger a case of the munchies? I'm clearing up the confusion around cannabidiol—the non-psychoactive ingredient from cannabis that's showing up in supermarket-friendly brands like Trip and GoodRays. From how it actually works in your brain to why it won't cause intoxication, I'll explain what CBD drinks really do and whether they're worth adding to your alcohol-free rotation.
Dive deeper with: ep#47. Psychotropic-Curious with High & Dry Founder Daniel Rowntree
On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Hse5wHNPIFcbeABPRdUz7?si=4c1cfa1a6f02485d
On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGsWqbTU
& Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.
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You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com
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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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🗣️ 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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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.
Will CBD Get Me High
How CBD Works In The Body
Dosage Limits And Personal Factors
Brands, Expert Reference, And Next Topic
SPEAKER_00Welcome to Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife Drinks 101, where in just a couple of minutes each week I help you to understand some of the mysteries behind low, no, and light alcohol drinks. Today we're looking at CBD drinks. This is the final category in our functional drinks mini-series, and it is a growing category of interest for alcohol-free drinks. CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is the non-psychoactive ingredient from the cannabis plant. CBD drinks are booming both in the States and here in the UK, and across the pond, you'll also find a growth in THC drinks or tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the psychoactive part of the plant, and it's currently illegal in the UK. So whilst there are a lot of people that think that these drinks have some great potential, it's not something I can talk about on this show. So the most common question to answer regarding CBD drinks is will they get me high? Lots of people worry that they may cause intoxication or trigger cravings for brownies, but as CBD is non-psychoactive, there is no risk of the munchies or any type of high. So what do they do instead? CBD drinks are often used for inducing relaxation and other calming, stress-relieving effects. While they won't get you woozy, they do bind to or interact with the science, is still figuring out exactly how they work, but they react with the receptors in the brain called endocannabinoids, where they help to reduce cortisol level, that's the stress hormone, and to balance your mood. They can also promote muscle relaxation and reduce inflammation. As with the adaptogens and nootropics we discussed in the last two weeks, the effect of CBD drinks varies person by person. There are limits in the UK on the dosage that is permitted in consumer goods, which was further reduced earlier on last year, and other factors such as your current physiology and how much weed you smoked in the past will all impact their effectiveness. Popular CBD brands here include brands like Trip and GoodRay's, which, if you were concerned about whether or not they would impact you, you feel reassured in knowing that you can pick up these drinks in your local supermarkets. I spoke to expert Daniel Roundtree from High and Dry about the course of CBD, THC, microdosing, nootropics, and adaptogens, both here in the UK and in the US in episode 47. So I think it'll be a great one for you to check out and find out more. I'll link to it in the show notes where you'll also find my email address. So if you do have a question you'd like me to answer on our drinks 101, please do let me know. Next time, now that we've finished our functional drinks mini series, we'll be moving on to look at why alcohol free drinks cost so much when there's no booze in them. So until next time, cheers to a life less intoxicated.
