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.
Episodes
203 episodes
153. Are You Too Old For Mindful Drinking?
Midlife drinking habits can feel set in stone after decades of established routines, but that doesn't mean change is impossible. In this episode, I explore whether you're ever too old to start moderating your drinking, tackling the ...
152. Reduce, Replace, R… The Third R of Mindful Drinking
Everyone bangs on about the first two Rs of mindful drinking – reduce and replace. But what about the third? This week, I'm tackling the missing piece of the moderation puzzle that nobody talks about: remove. I'm not talking about r...
151. Beating Quitter’s Day! The Dry January Myths That Sabotage Your Success
We're smack bang between Quitter's Day and Blue Monday - that dreaded mid-January slump when Dry January motivation nosedives and everything feels a bit meh. You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m diving into the top Dry January my...
150. Dry January: The Pros, The Cons & The Sunnyside Perspective
Nick Allen, co-founder and CEO of Sunnyside, joins me to explore why traditional Dry January might be setting us up to fail—and what we can do about it. We discuss Sunnyside's "dry-ish January" approach that prioritises sustainable habi...
Mindful Drinking New Year’s Eve: End the Year on Your Terms
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/This New Year’s Eve episode closes out a...
Mindful Drinking Advent 26: Boxing Day: The Second Coming of Christmas
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On this surprise bonus Day Twenty-Six of...
Mindful Drinking Advent 25: Merry Christmas — Enjoy the Day!
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Twenty-Five of the Mindful Drinki...
Mindful Drinking Advent 24: Christmas Eve - Rest Now, Enjoy Tomorrow
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Twenty-Four of the Mindful Drinki...
Mindful Drinking Advent 23: Travel Tactics for a Clear Arrival
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Twenty-Three of the Mindful Drink...
Mindful Drinking Advent 22: Hosting with Ease and Inclusion
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Twenty-Two of the Mindful Drinkin...
Mindful Drinking Advent 21: Redefining “Treat Yourself”
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Twenty-One of the Mindful Drinkin...
Mindful Drinking Advent 20: Surviving the Chaos of Family Without Drinking Christmas Away
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Twenty of the Mindful Drinking Ad...
Mindful Drinking Advent 19: Set Yourself Up to Succeed at Home
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Nineteen of the Mindful Drinking ...
Mindful Drinking Advent 18: Wake Up Winning (But Don’t Be That Guy)
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Eighteen of the Mindful Drinking ...
Mindful Drinking Advent 17: You Don’t Need Dutch Courage
GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/On Day Seventeen of the Mindful Drinking...
Mindful Drinking Advent 16: Finding Alcohol-Free Drinks You Genuinely Love
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...
Mindful Drinking Advent 15: Protect Your Sleep, Protect Yourself
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...
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://mind...
Mindful Drinking Advent 13: What To Do When Last Night Went Off-Piste
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...
Mindful Drinking Advent 12: The Truth About That First Drink
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...
Mindful Drinking Advent 11: How to Handle Those “Just Have One” Moments
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...
Mindful Drinking Advent 10: Mull Everything — Festive Is a Feeling, Not an ABV
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...
Mindful Drinking Advent 9: The Long Lunch Survival Guide
YOUR DATA, YOUR CHOICE: WEIGH UP THE TRUE IMPACT OF DRINKING FROM LIGHT – MEDIUM – HEAVY DAYS WITH THE DRINKING IMPACT CALCULATOR AT https://mindfuldri...