
Hosted by Denise Hamilton-Mace | Mindful Drinking Mentor Writer, Speaker & Coach · EN
**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:
This podcast is for you if:
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.

Send me a message 🤗Are you waiting for the big lightbulb moment that finally makes changing your drinking feel easy? Five years in, I can tell you that moment probably isn't coming. And honestly? That's fine. Because it turns out it's not the sweeping life overhauls that make the real difference. It's the small stuff. To mark five years of drinking differently, I'm sharing 20 of the little habits, mindset shifts and quiet decisions that have genuinely shaped the way I drink today. Some of them will surprise you. Some might make you laugh. A few might make you think. And none of them involves a strict set of rules or a particularly impressive amount of willpower. If you've been on this journey for a while and feel like you're still figuring it out — we all are. So this one's for you. 0:00 Why Small Habits Matter2:41 I Don't Count My Drinks3:03 No Negotiation4:18 I Tell the People Who Matter4:44 I Keep it Simple5:13 When I'm Done, I'm Done5:40 No Guilt6:06 I Pay it Forward7:00 I Don't Show Off7:50 I Eat8:19 I Sleep8:52 Check Menus9:17 Have a Backup Plan10:07 Healthy Comparisons11:06 I Treat Myself11:44 I Fantasise A Life Less Intoxicated13:13 Not Expecting Perfection13:30 Flexibility14:50 I Don't Drink To Feel15:43 I Put Myself FirstAlso mentioned:===✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/===Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Send me a message 🤗There's nothing quite like a proper pint. So why is it still so difficult to find a good alcohol-free one on draught at your local?The answer comes down to more than just slow adoption — there's real science and real commercial pressure behind it. The good news is that things are moving, and there's actually something practical you can do about it right now.1:21 The Challenge for Pubs2:37 Who’s Doing Draft Alcohol-Free Well?3:23 Ask For What You Want Dive deeper with:Ep# 117: Inside the Asahi / Peroni 15% Alcohol-Free MissionOn Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/117-inside-the-asahi-peroni-15-alcohol-free-mission/id1701338793?i=1000734001475 On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/7s4TA9XTUfswRGnp3nfbJt?si=bec8464dea564f06 On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGt5rwMA & Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.CLAIM YOUR £47 MEMBERSHIP TO THE VAULT BEFORE SUNDAY 24th MAY AT https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/birthday47 === ===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Send me a message 🤗What if the biggest obstacle between you and actually drinking less isn't willpower, habit, or social pressure — but the words you're using to talk to yourself about it?This episode borrows a little wisdom from the world of NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) to shine a light on five ordinary, everyday words that are quietly working against your moderation goals. These aren't obscure or complicated — they're the kind of language that slips into your self-talk without a second thought, because it's just how we've always spoken. And yet, when it comes to changing the way you drink in midlife, these tiny words can have an outsized impact on how your brain processes — and follows through on — change. Once you know what to listen for, you'll clock them constantly. 2:18 What NLP Has to Do With Changing Your Drinking3:02 Your Brain is Wired for Survival4:46 Why Trying Doesn't Work6:54 Wishing & Hoping Is Not A Plan8:46 There is No Should10:44 Swap But For And13:17 From 'I Can’t' To 'What If I Can?'15:53 Practice The Reframes And Move OnBest episode to listen to next: ep#153. Are You Too Old For Mindful Drinking? - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2229527/episodes/18562254 Join the membership and get the resources you need to make the change you want - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault ===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===🗝️ Join the membership and unlock full access to The Vault - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Send me a message 🤗If you've ever hesitated at the bar or in the supermarket over a 0.5% beer, wondering whether it counts as "really" alcohol-free — this one's for you.The labelling around low and no drinks can be genuinely confusing, especially when the UK and most of the countries we import from aren't working from the same rulebook. There's actual science behind the answer, and it might put your mind at rest to finally know the truth 1:38 Why 0.5% Drinks Can't Get You Drunk3:04 Metabolism And Micro Doses Of Alcohol4:06 Everyday Foods With Trace AlcoholDive deeper with:ep#76. Beyond Bananas! 12 Everyday Foods That Contain AlcoholOn Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/76-beyond-bananas-12-everyday-foods-that-contain-alcohol/id1701338793?i=1000701851950On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Qo6ZlOME4QEUTGT4NyzFi?si=75dc9a05eefc4cbaOn Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGuYsLbA & Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===🗝️ Join the membership and unlock full access to The Vault - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Hey, let's text 🤗Have you ever dipped a toe into the world of mindful drinking, decided it wasn't for you, and quietly slipped back to your old habits — only to find yourself here again, months or even a year later?That's exactly what happened to H. She found this podcast, subscribed, then walked away. A year on, she came back — and this time, something had shifted. Her story isn't unique. It might actually be yours.This episode explores the part of the mindful drinking journey that nobody really talks about: the waiting room. That in-between place where you're not quite ready to commit, but something keeps pulling you back. The repeated dry Januarys with no real plan for February. The "failed" attempts that weren't really failures at all. And the quiet but growing awareness that alcohol might not be serving you the way it once did.Mindful drinking isn't a quick fix or a personality transplant. It's a tool — and knowing how and when to pick it up is half the battle. Whether you're somewhere between sober curious and not-bloody-likely-yet, your journey has already started, whether you're ready to admit it or not.2:13 H's story3:46 Not the only one5:16 Mindful Drinking As a Tool ===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Hey, let's text 🤗Ever picked up a bottle of alcohol-free wine or a non-alcoholic spirit and wondered why it costs as much — or more — than the full-strength version? You're not alone, and the answer is more interesting than you might think. Alcohol does a lot more heavy lifting in a drink than most people realise, and replacing all of those functions doesn't come cheap. Find out everything you need to know in this five-minute listen.Dive deeper with:108: Costs Pt1: What You’re Really Paying For On Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/108-costs-pt1-what-youre-really-paying-for/id1701338793?i=1000723671858& 109: Costs Pt2: £62,899 BurnoutOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YDnvrKmgOEwCeP2b6U5NK?si=f092962e1999409e & Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Hey, let's text 🤗If you ever find yourself stuck in the planning phase, endlessly researching moderation techniques but never quite knowing which one to actually try, this episode is for you. From zebra striping to bookending to coasting, the sheer number of approaches to cutting back can feel overwhelming—especially when you're not sure if what worked (or didn't work) for someone else will work for you.I'm breaking down the most popular active moderation techniques, complete with honest pros and cons for each. But more importantly, I'm giving you five critical questions to ask yourself that will help you identify which approach might actually fit your life, your personality, and your drinking goals.We'll explore the difference between active and passive moderation, why one failed attempt doesn't mean you're doomed, and how to build sustainable habits instead of white-knuckling your way through rigid rules. Whether you thrive on structure or need maximum flexibility, there's a moderation technique that can work for you—you just need to know which questions to ask first.2:22 The Low No Drinker Quiz - The Thinker3:43 Active & Passive Moderation5:41 Dry Month Challenges: Pros And Cons7:11 Zebra Striping Explained8:53 Bookending Your Night9:53 Coasting With Mid-Strength Drinks10:58 Personal Rules And Boundaries13:45 Mixing And Matching Approaches14:34 Five Questions To Choose Your Method17:12 Question 218:13 Question 319:22 Question 421:24 Question 5 ep#114: £800 Million Lost, Over-55s Join In & Why "Drinking Less" Is the Wrong TermJoin the membership and get the resources you need to make the change you want - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault ===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Hey, let's text 🤗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 RowntreeOn Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/47-psychotropic-curious-with-high-dry-founder-daniel/id1701338793?i=1000678626373 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.===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Hey, let's text 🤗You've made a clear decision about your drinking trajectory for the night, you’re feeling comfortable and confident about it, yet some people can’t quite seem to accept “No thanks” for an answer.It’s not about you. This is their issue… but why?These are the five personality types you'll encounter when you start drinking differently. From the Validator to the Controller, and once you understand what each type actually needs from you, their reactions make a lot more sense. And more importantly, you'll know that you never need to compromise your choices to manage their discomfort.1:59 Selfish in the Right Way3:41 The Validator5:28 The Includer7:02 The Traditionalist8:49 The Host10:10 The Controller11:32 Make No Mean No13:02 Compassion Without Compromise===Join me inside The Vault, where theory becomes action, and you learn how to drink mindfully on your own terms - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/s/the-vault ===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

Hey, let's text 🤗Think coffee is your only pick-me-up? I'm unpacking nootropics—the brain-boosting compounds showing up in your alcohol-free drinks that enhance everything from memory to concentration. From the caffeine in your morning brew to lesser-known ingredients like L-tyrosine and ginkgo biloba, I'll explain what these cognitive enhancers actually do and why you definitely don't want to drink them before bed. Go deeper with: ep#69. The Fungi Consultant: Do Functional Mushrooms Work in Low/No Drinks? On Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/69-the-fungi-consultant-do-functional-mushrooms-work/id1701338793?i=1000698034459 On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZLJayoZfdzS1775yTaUwJ?si=150266b3fd824799 On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGumjchM & Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101. ===You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com===🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habitshttps://www.lownodrinker.com/===🗣️ Join the growing community on Substackhttps://lownodrinker.substack.com/===🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Resethttps://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset===*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.