Alcohol often hits differently in our 40s.
What once felt relaxing can now mean 3am wake-ups, anxiety the next day, hot flushes, brain fog, or simply feeling more depleted than it ever used to. And for many women in midlife, there comes a quiet moment where you think:
“I’m not sure this is working for me anymore.”
But knowing that… and actually changing it?
Very different things.
In this episode, I’m joined by Denise Hamilton-Mace, Mindful Drinking Mentor, writer, and host of Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife. After a 24-year career in hospitality, where daily drinking was simply part of the culture. Denise began to realise in her early 40s that alcohol was no longer serving her the way it once had.
She has since become a leading voice in the low and no alcohol space, supporting midlife adults to change the way alcohol shows up in their lives, on their own terms, with no judgment and no expectation to quit.
Together, we have a relaxed and honest conversation about what it really looks like to reduce alcohol in midlife, without losing your identity, your friendships, or your sense of fun.
Because for many women, it’s not just about the drink. It’s about:
- Who am I if I’m not the one who always says yes?
- Will people think I’m boring?
- What happens to my social life?
- Do I have to give it up completely?
- Why does this feel more emotional than I expected?
We talk about letting go of an old version of yourself.
The peer pressure and subtle comments like “go on, just one.”
The people-pleasing patterns that often surface.
And how to hold boundaries without becoming defensive or awkward.
Denise shares powerful mindset shifts, including moving from “I can’t drink” to “I’m choosing not to,” why experimenting is often more sustainable than an all-or-nothing approach, and how to decouple alcohol from relaxation, reward and connection.
Denise’s resources mentioned in the episode:
Denise’s 4-Week Mindful Drinking Reset – http://mindfuldrinkingreset.com
Denise’s Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife Podcast and Substack – https://www.lownodrinker.com
Other Resources:
Take my Free Perimenopause Quiz! Find your perimenopause stage, uncover your priority health pillars, and get instant steps to feel better, all in one free quiz, here.
Join the Midlife Thrive Membership here.
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