Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
**A Spotify 'Rising Star' show** Practical moderation for the way you want to live.
Why can't I drink like I used to? How do I drink less without quitting completely? Should I go for low, no or light alcohol drinks? 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, 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?
- What really works: willpower vs. strategy?
- 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?
This podcast is for you if:
- 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 and Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms
187. Introducing 'Everyone's Asking': Your Most-Asked Questions About Mindful Drinking
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Summer holidays are a lot. Whether you're feeding and funding teenagers, entertaining little ones round the clock, or just can't get anything done because everyone else is away — this season is a kicker for all of us.
So this summer, I'm introducing 'Everyone's Asking', a six-week mini-series answering the questions I get asked again and again — in emails, in comments, in mentoring sessions — after nearly 200 episodes of this show.
Each episode is a little shorter than usual and packed with answers, covering everything from whether moderation is really possible, to drinking less without giving it up, navigating social life and relationships, why you drink the way you do, getting back on track after a slip, and what life looks like once moderation starts to stick.
New to the show? Consider this your summer quick-start guide. Been here a while? This is where we pull all our foundational thinking together in one place.
Got a question you want answered? Head to the show notes and send it over. And make sure you're following or subscribing so every new episode lands straight in your feed.
Because I don't want you to miss a single answer on the way to taking back the power of choice from alcohol.
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🌱 Ready for real change in the way you drink? - https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset
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🗝️ Become a Vault member to get access to the moderation tools that actually help - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault
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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/
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❓ Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13
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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.
Friday Feed Surprise And Update
SPEAKER_00Hey, it's me Dee. I know you don't usually see me in your feed on a Friday, but I want to tell you about an update for the show for these glorious summer weeks ahead.
Why Summer Makes Everything Harder
SPEAKER_00These school summer holidays are a kicker for everyone. Whether you have teenagers who need constant feeding and financial support, or little ones like me who need to be entertained 24-7, it's a challenge like no other. Or maybe you don't have kids at all, but you can't get anything done because everyone else is away. So this summer I'm doing something a little bit different with the podcast that I think is going to be better for all of us, me included.
Introducing Everyone’s Asking Mini Series
SPEAKER_00Starting next Wednesday at our usual time, in our usual place, I'll be introducing a new summer-long mini-series called Everyone's Asking. After nearly 200 episodes, the same questions keep coming up again and again. They're asked to me in emails, in comments, in mentoring sessions. So rather than answer them all one by one, I'm dedicating six episodes over summer to answering your most asked questions about mindful drinking and moderation in midlife.
Shorter Episodes Packed With Answers
SPEAKER_00Each episode will be a little bit shorter than usual because I know that over summer you just don't have the time that you usually do to spend with me. And so I want to make sure that every moment we do get together is a jam-packed with information that is actually going to help you drink differently. We'll be covering whether moderation is really possible, how to drink less without giving up, social life and relationships, why you drink the way you do, and what happens when you slip up, quote unquote, and what life can look like once moderation begins to stick. Each episode will answer several of the biggest questions on that topic taken from the questions you've actually been asking for years.
Who The Series Is For
SPEAKER_00So who is this for? If you're new to the show, you can consider this your summer quick start guide. And if you've been listening for years already, thank you. It's great to have you here. This series will help you pull together all of the foundational thinking on moderation we've been working on together.
Send Your Questions And Join In
SPEAKER_00If you've got any questions that you'd like me to answer, then please do head to the show notes, click on the send me a message button and fire them over. In the meantime, make sure that you follow or subscribe to the show wherever you listen to your podcasts so that each new episode is bumped to the top of your feed.
Follow Along And Take Back Choice
SPEAKER_00Because I do not want you to miss these answers to the most asked questions when it comes to changing decades of drinking habits, and finally taking back the power of choice from alcohol.
