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
#79. Powerful Mindset Shifts That Will Transform Your Experience with Low/No Drinks – Pt1
In this solo episode, I explore some of the essential mindset shifts that can transform your relationship with low, no and light drinks. These perspective changes are game-changers on your journey to mindful drinking, helping you appreciate alc...
#78. How Your Tastes Change When You Start Drinking Low/No
A few months ago, I tasted a sip of an Old Fashioned (my former favourite cocktail) and nearly fell off my chair because it tasted SO strong. But here's the thing - the drink hadn't changed, my taste buds had!In this episode, I get into ...
#77. Ethical Consumerism Meets Mindful Drinking with Sea Change Wines
I chatted with Simon Rolfe, Director at Sea Change Wines - a brand combining award-winning wines with ocean conservation. Sea Change began in 2018 when Simon's team wanted to create a product that would create a legacy their children could be p...
#76. Beyond Bananas! 12 Everyday Foods That Contain Alcohol
In this episode, I’m tackling the common concern around 0.5% ABV drinks by taking a look at the surprising array of everyday foods in your kitchen that contain similar or higher levels of alcohol. If you've been hesitant to try 0.5%...
#75. Beyond Wine: Creating Category-Less Drinks with Muri
This week I'm joined by Murray Patterson, founder of Muri - a unique range of fermented non-alcoholic drinks designed for wine occasions. Murray shares his fascinating journey from a soul-crushing corporate job at JP Morgan to discovering his p...
#74. 50% of Drinkers Prefer Going for Two: How ‘Coasting’ Is Changing the Way We Moderate
The mid-strength Collective. How these 12 brands are coming together to help spread the word of this exciting new category with great potential but little exposure.ON THE SHOW0:00 Intro2:28 Why is mid-strength importan...
#73. America's 1st Non-Alc Bottle Shop, Celebrity Brands & THC Drinks
Victoria Watters is the co-founder of Dry Atlas, a media platform dedicated to alcohol alternatives. She is also one-half of the driving force behind Spirited Away – America's first non-alcoholic bottle shop. Victoria and her husband, Douglas, ...
#72. The Problem with Naming Alcohol-Free Spirits
In this episode, I explore why alcohol-free bottles are labelled as ‘botanical spirit’ or ‘dark spiced’ instead of gin or rum. These naming conventions aren't just creative marketing—they're legal requirements which force alcohol-free producers...
#71. Award-Winning Sober Bartender's Guide to Non-Alc Spirits & Cocktails
Chris Cardone is a beverage consultant, chief mixologist and career bartender who, despite being sober for nearly 10 years, has continued to work in the hospitality drinks industry and help make the bar scene more inclusive for those seeking al...
#70. Mocktail: The Dirty Word of Alcohol-Free Drinking
Why is the word 'Mocktail' so contentious in the low/no space?IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE, WE COVER:
#69. The Fungi Consultant: Do Functional Mushrooms Work in Low/No Drinks?
Oli Genn-Bash is one of the most interesting guests I’ve had the privilege to interview. He’s a fungi fanatic and a mycology maestro; aka he loves mushrooms!In this deep dive episode into the true role of functional mushrooms in our drin...
#68. The No.1 Mistake Made by New Low/No Drinkers
“Alcohol changes everything about how a drink feels and tastes and behaves.”“There's a lot that goes on with alcohol inside a drink that is about far more than just getting you sozzled, and when you take that away, it's going to give you...
#67. MUUSH: The Functional Mushroom Elixir Served Hot, Cold & in Mocktails
Matt Martin is the co-founder of MUUSH functional mushroom elixirs. A unique range of alcohol-free drinks that can be mixed and served hot, cold or added into mocktails – covering your functional needs though morning, noon and night.But ...
#66. Active vs Passive Moderation Techniques
“It's a change in who you are. It's a change in the way you think. It's a change in the way that you act, and, most importantly, it's a change in your belief system.”This week we're covering: 0:21 A...
#65. No Compromise with ZENO Alcohol-Liberated Wines
Just past their two-year birthday, ZENO alcohol-liberated wines are a range of five (for now) hand-crafted wines, made “for wine enthusiasts when they choose to abstain”.In this week’s conversation, I talk to co-founder David Hodgson abo...
#64. What The Heck Do Functional Beverages Even Do (& do they work)?
In this week's FAQ, we cover:0:00 What are functional drinks?
#63. What Are Zebra Striping and Bookending (& Do They Work)?
In this week's FAQ, we cover:0:21 Where do the terms come from?1:05...
#62. What Exactly is a Unit & How Many Are in My Favourite Drinks?
In this week's FAQ, we cover: 0:20 What is a unit?
#61. Alcohol-Free Spirit-Forward Events with Third Place Bar
Sam Bail is the founder and tastemaker of the Stateside non-alcoholic pop-up sensation Third Place Bar.And for the last two years, Sam has had her finger firmly on the pulse of the low/no drinks scene.Born in Germany, studied in M...
#60. What Are Alcohol-Free RTDs? (& Where Can I Find Them?)
In this FAQ episode, we cover: 0:21 What are RTDs?
#59. Plant-Powered AF Brewing: On Beer
======SHOW QUOTES“People look at plants and look at their garden and think, ah, just plants, but they're some of the most powerful things on the planet.”“So I get a fizzing on my chest, like that nice fizzing, and you f...
#58. What Do I Do After Dry January?
In this FAQ episode, we cover:The worst thing you can doThinking back to your whyHow did it feel?What are you taking forward?Becoming a moderating drinker=============================...
#57. Why Non-Alc is Boring: Drink The Pathfinder
======SHOW QUOTES “I actually think non-alc is boring now.”“The UK is the most sophisticated non-alc market in the world!”======SHOW SUMMARY Rish Ravalia is the UK Manager for The Path...
#56. The ABVs of Low/No Alcohol Drinks
In this FAQ episode, we cover: - What does ABV mean? - Average ABVs for full-strength drinks - Low/no/light ABVs - How to send your questions (& get free stuff) - Best episode...
#55. Rebels0.0: Launching Switzerland’s 1st Alcohol-Free Brand
=====SHOW QUOTES 'When we started three and a half years ago, there were a lot of question marks in everyone’s eyes; a lot of pushback from proud bartenders who said "No. I need to sell alcohol. I don't want to do a...