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
#29. The Rise and Rise of Mocktails with Pooja Sharma-Jones
Pooja Sharma-Jones is the dynamic Chief Marketing Officer for Mocktails, the leading RTD alcohol-free cocktail company in both the UK & the US. In this conversation, she takes us through her own incredible journey working...
#28. 1,500 AF Beers & Counting, with Martin Dixon
Meet Martin Dixon, our resident beer reviewer at Low No Drinker Magazine, who has meticulously tasted and reviewed over 1,500 alcohol-free beers and ciders on his Instagram page! His expertise has not only fuelled the m...
#27. Meeting the Botanist: The Tea-Infused 'Function-Ale'
What happens when an IT specialist and a nurse join forces to start making beer? Meet Kristian Harris and Amie Caldwell, the delightful duo behind The Gentleman Brewing Company. In this episode of the Low No Drinker Podc...
#26. Understanding the Costs of Low/No-&-Light: Why Alcohol-Free Drinks Aren't Cheap
Welcome to the latest episode of the Low No Drinker Podcast! Today, we're diving into a topic that baffles many: why do alcohol-free and low/no-&-light drinks cost as much as their boozy counterparts? You might be surprised to learn that th...
#25. £12k Bottling Disaster with Carouse Alcohol-Free Spirit Founder Steph Elswood
What if you could transform your social life and well-being without a drop of alcohol? In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Steph Elswood, the founder of Carouse, a cutting-ed...
#24. Pubs & Pints with Big Drop Brewing Co-Founder Rob Fink
Ever wondered how a high school band rivalry could lead to a thriving alcohol-free beer empire? No, neither had I but in this episode, I chat with Rob Fink, the CEO and drum-playing co-founder of Big Drop Brewing about how a boyhood friendship ...
#23. Fighting Back: Alcoholism, Monopolies & Love with Myth & Goat Founder Colette Safhill
It's one thing to launch an alcohol-free brand with no experience of the market or processes involved. It’s quite another to launch two brands at the same time. Yet that is exactly what Myth & Goat founder Colette Safhill did two years ago,...
#22. Unpopular opinion? The Moderating Middle
The 'moderating middle' is the mass middle ground in which 75% of the UK population is currently living, and yet they have the quietest voice. Why?In this solo episode, Denise takes us through the reasons why we don't hear ...
#21. DECEM: From MasterChef Finalist to 10% Spirit Distiller
Join me this week as I sit down to talk with ex-MasterChef finalist turned mid-range alcohol gin distiller Billy Wright – the founder of DECEM 10% GinIn this open and honest conversation, Billy shares his incredible journey fr...
#19. You Don't Have to be An Alcoholic to Rethink Your Drinking
It’s time to stop beating around the bush and get real with yourself. Giving yourself time to assess your relationship with alcohol is not just the purview of the disordered drinker. You don’t have to wait until you’re ...
#18. Sober Curious or Mindful Drinker: What's the Difference?
Ever wondered what people actually mean when they say they’re ‘sober curious’?Not sure what’s involved in being a ‘mindful drinker’Wondering which lifestyle choice would suit you best? In this short episode Deni...
#17. The Future of Alcohol-Free Drinks in Bars
Arron Smallman is the founder of Let’s Push Things Forward, a Hospitality Specialist Peer-Based Recovery Coach and a World Record Holder! He is a self-proclaimed low and no alcohol crusader and mental health first aider who re...
#16. Exploring Lighter Spirits with Quarter Proof 15%
First, there was low and no – now there’s light!As industry leaders in this newer mid-range space, Quarter co-founder Rohan Radhakrishnan is primed to welcome us into his world in this eye-opening delve into the 12% spirit brand....
#15. Crossip: The Zero-Strength Spirit Made for Full-Strength Drinkers
Join me on this trip down memory lane with Carl Anthony Brown, co-founder of Crossip Alcohol-Free Spirits.Carl comes at the low/no market from a different perspective, as in his inimitable “unapologetically Bold’ way he makes it clear th...
#14. Unfiltered Journeys in Fermentation with Ama Brewery
Discover the effervescent world of sparkling pét-nat tea fermentation with Aaron McAllister and Daniel Lasa of Amma Brewery, who join me to share their passion for creating low-alcohol, artisanal beverages that go beyond the everyday.&nb...
#13. Fat Jabs & Their Impact on Drinking Low/No
And now for something a little different…This week things take a more scientific turn as I speak to Food & Beverage Consultant Hamish Renton. Hamish is the MD of HRA-Global and, with 20 years of experience in the food and...
#12. Redefining Scottish Alcohol-Free Spirits with Feragaia
This week, our glasses are brimming with an innovative non-alcoholic elixir that whispers tales of the Scottish highlands and promises liberation from traditional drinking culture. Feragaia’s botanical symphony, a blend of 14 distinct natural r...
#11. Understanding the UK Low/Alcohol-Free/Non-Alcoholic Labelling System
The UK labelling system for low/no beverages is broken. There, I said it!Most people don't understand the differences, our pubs don’t match our supermarkets, and it’s all a case of best practice with no hard and fast laws to govern them....
#10. The Quest for Inclusive Mixology with All the Bitter AF Cocktail Bitters
Ever wondered how a shift in lifestyle can spur a wave of creativity and innovation? In the latest conversation on the Low No Drinker Podcast, we retrace the steps from three-Michelin-starred sommelier at Nappa Valley’s French Laundry to kitche...
#9. Dealcoholised Vs Alcohol-Free Wine Making with Wednesday's Domaine
If you’ve ever wished for an alcohol-free wine that didn't compromise on taste, texture and experience, then Luke Hemsley of Wednesday's Domain has got something for you. Come with us on our conversation as Luke uncorks the secrets behind craft...
#8 From Alcohol Sales Rep to Novice AF Brewer - Clean Break Brewing
Have you ever pondered the actual currency of success in low/no brewing? Rich Casement, the man behind Clean Break Brewing, joins us to weave a narrative of transformation from hospitality veteran to novice brewer in the world of alcohol-free b...
#7. Alcohol-Free Brewing meets Mushroom Magic with Fungtn
This episode begins by casting a spotlight on the vital need for investments to support groundbreaking, innovative alcohol-free ventures.And then we meet Zoey Henderson and discover a world where the zest of craft beer meets the zenith ...
#6. Lecap: The 5% Rosé Wine
Kieran Gandhi is one of the founders of La Cap, a brand that produces 5% ABV wines. With a background in hospitality and a passion for creating a lower-alcohol, lower-calorie wine, Kieran and his team have worked hard to develop a product that ...
#5. Meeting Gen!us 3% Beer Co-Founder Jason Clarke
Jason Clark is one of the founders of Gen!us Brewing, a company that specialises in lower-alcohol, low-calorie craft beers. With a background in filmmaking, Jason recognised the need for a high-quality, lower-ABV beer option in the market and s...