Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms

Send me a message 🤗 This week, I'm busting the myth that Gen Z are the only ones changing their relationship with alcohol.  Inspired by a 70-year-old Irish gentleman named Eamon who told me he recently decided to quit drinking, I explore how my generation—Generation X—along with older Millennials and even Boomers, are quietly revolutionising our drinking habits.  With 74% of UK adults now ac...

Send me a message 🤗 This week I'm thrilled to be joined by Neil Hudson-Basing, the “chaotic, queer and kind” co-founder of House of Happiness - London's sober clubbing extravaganza. Neil takes us behind the scenes of creating London's first queer-led sober rave, from its humble beginnings to becoming a glitter-filled, music-pumping daytime party at one of London's top clubs. W...

Send me a message 🤗 In this candid solo episode, I tackle the gatekeeping creeping into the low/no space, particularly around big alcohol brands releasing alcohol-free options. After receiving pushback for sharing Heineken's expansion news, I'm setting the record straight: there's no "right way" to be a mindful drinker. Whether you prefer mainstream alcohol-free beers or...

Send me a message 🤗 Sonja Mitchell is the founder of Jump Ship, the award-winning Scottish alcohol-free brewery making waves in the low/no space. From knowing absolutely nothing about brewing to winning 'Scottish Small Brewery of the Year', Sonja shares her remarkable journey—including launch delays, a pandemic pivot, and even a David and Goliath-esque legal battle.  0:00 Sonja's s...

Send me a message 🤗 Subscribe to Low No Drinker Magazine free trial Come with me on part 2 of our mindset shifts discovery. You can find part 1 at ep#79  This week, we cover: 1:46 Shift 10 - They're not worth the price 3:52 Shift 11 - Changing my social identity 5:24 Shift 12 - This is just a trend 7:30 Shift 13 - Tried one, tried them all 10:23 Shift 14 - Limiting social occasions 14:03 Shi...

Send me a message 🤗 This week, I’m bringing you none other than Mr Ben Branson! The man who turned the drinks world upside down with Seedlip joins me to share the story behind his newest venture, Sylva, with a quick stop off at his innovative bitters range, Seasn. Sylva is a revolutionary approach to non-alc dark spirits that extracts flavours from trees using sonic maturation. From his humble be...

Send me a message 🤗 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 alcohol alternatives for what they truly offer rather than what they're replacing. Whether you're aiming for complete sobriety o...

Send me a message 🤗 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 the science behind why this happens (don't worry, no lab coat required) and how it actually numbs our taste buds, and when we...

Send me a message 🤗 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 proud of. Inspired by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet series, they proceeded to build a brand, removing unnecessary packaging, usi...

Send me a message 🤗 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% drinks on your mindful drinking journey, this episode will help put things into perspective and potentially open up a whole new world of dri...

Send me a message 🤗 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 passion for fermentation in the cider industry before relocating to Copenhagen - a global hub for fermentation expertise. At Muri,...

Send me a message 🤗 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 SHOW 0:00 Intro 2:28 Why is mid-strength important? 3:18 Why we are choosing to moderate 4:55 Across the ages 6:20 How we're moderating 7:09 Coasting 8:06 Going for two is the new going for one 8:53 Why...

Send me a message 🤗 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, launched their bottle shop in November 2020 and have never looked back! This week, we’re chatting about Victoria's insights o...

Send me a message 🤗 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 to use alternative terminology that hints at what their products are meant to replace.  But does it cause more confusion? Wh...

Send me a message 🤗 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 alternative ways to drink. He is the winner of Bartender of the Year, a four-time national flair bartending finalist, and has even taught...

Send me a message 🤗 Why is the word 'Mocktail' so contentious in the low/no space? IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE, WE COVER: 0:59 [A very] Brief history of mocktails 2:55 A mockery 3:40 Second-class drinkers 4:46 Not for the kids menu 7:40 What else can we call them? 8:24 Other terrible terms 9:21 AF mixologists to watch 10:49 But... some people still like it 12:04 A good problem to have BEST E...

Send me a message 🤗 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 drinks, Oli doesn’t hold back. He tells us what these fascinating fungi actually do in our bodies, how to identify quality suppliers and the trut...

Send me a message 🤗 “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 a different product.”   This week we cover: 0:00 Welcome to ep#68 0:26 But first, a big thank you! 2:13 The no.1 mistake 2:45 Mana...

Send me a message 🤗 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 they’re not stopping there. Matt & Dan have also added an extension of kid-friendly drinks with their Mini Muush range, and wanting to en...

Send me a message 🤗 “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 Active vs passive moderation 0:46 Warning: Not suitable for people with AUD 2:19 3 Es Framework 3:52 What is active moderation? 4:41 Setting the rules of...

Send me a message 🤗 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 about his transition from 25 years in traditional wine to launching an alcohol-free wine brand amidst the uncertainty of COVID, Brexit & a f...

Send me a message 🤗  In this week's FAQ, we cover: 0:00 What are functional drinks? 1:17 Adaptogens 2:31 Nootropics 4:02 Other functionals 4:55 Natural vs synthetic ingredients 6:51 Reality check 8:18 Individual responses 9:24 Health warning 9:58 Getting started 11:35 Recommendations =============================================   Best episode to listen to next:  #59 Plant-powered AF Brewing...

Send me a message 🤗 In this week's FAQ, we cover: 0:21 Where do the terms come from? 1:05 What is zebra striping? 2:17 What is bookending? 2:59 Is there any data? 3:52 Who zebra striping is good for 4:33 Who zebra striping is bad for 6:59 Honest personal reflection 7:53 Zebra striping as active moderation 9:05 When bookending works well 9:41 When bookending won't work 10:27 Final though...

Send me a message 🤗 In this week's FAQ, we cover: 0:20 What is a unit? 1:11 Processing a unit of alcohol in the body 1:53 Calculating units in a drink 3:44 Units in your favourite drinks 5:49 UK unit guidelines 6:06 What this means for low/no/light 8:32 Access the free unit guide   ============================================= Best episode to listen to next:  #56 FAQ: What does ABV mean? (an...

Send me a message 🤗 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 Manchester (the one in England, that is), and currently based in New York, Sam is busy putting on events, teaching cocktail classes, and integrating...