Mindful Drinking and Moderation in Midlife: How to Drink Less, On Your Terms – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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 GET READY FOR YOUR BEST (ADULT) CHRISTMAS YET & GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/

If you've ever wondered why that glass of wine or pint of beer hits differently now than it did ten years ago, this episode breaks down the reality behind why midlife drinking hits differently.

I explore three critical body changes that make alcohol more potent as we age: declining water content (dropping from 60% to 50% by our 50s), hormonal shifts during menopause and andropause, and how alcohol sabotages the restorative sleep our bodies desperately need.

From practical pacing strategies to adaptogenic alternatives and sleep hygiene tips, I offer actionable ways to work with your changing body rather than fight against it. Because you're not broken – you're just not 18 anymore.

0:00 Listener Question Inspo
2:42 Body Water And Alcohol Intensity
5:47 Hormones, Menopause And Andropause
8:27 Weight gain, adaptogens & nootropics
10:21 The Nightcap Myth And REM Sleep
13:34 Sleep Hygiene And Alcohol-Free Nightcaps

Also mentioned:
Healthy Metal*
Trip Magnesium drinks*

Best episode to listen to next: 
#78 How Your Tastes Change When You Start Drinking Low/No

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

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Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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Sign up to the Low No Drinker Mindful Drinking Advent Calendar for free and get ready for your best (adult) Christmas yet! - https://www.lownodrinker.com/mindfuladvent

This week, I’m joined by Andy Wingate, Asahi UK’s Director of Category, for a fascinating deep dive into the world of big beer and its growing commitment to the alcohol-free market for the companies leading alcohol-free beers, Peroni 0.0 & Asahi Super Dry 0.0.

We get into the real-world challenges the brand faces in bringing 0.0 beer to pubs on draught, as well as the impact of competitor marketing.

We also tackle some of the thornier questions, including whether "Big Alcohol’s" involvement helps or hinders the category. And Andy is refreshingly candid about the balance between commercial goals, genuine cultural change and competitor impact.

You’ll hear how Peroni 0.0 and Asahi 0.0 were created to match their full-strength counterparts as closely as possible, and why Asahi has set itself an ambitious goal of 15% of its global revenue to come from non-alcoholic products.

It’s an honest, insight-packed conversation that shines a light on how even the biggest players are facing challenges adapting to the mindful drinking movement, but why that’s good news overall for all of us who want more choice when we drink differently.

WE CHAT ABOUT
0:00 Andy's story
5:37 Why did Asahi/Peroni join the non-alc space?
8:17 15% target low/no target
12:15 Balancing 0% marketing & full-strength promotion
14:44 The impact of Heineken's ad spend
21:26 The future of alcohol-free Asahi & Peroni in pubs
25:35 Asahi/Peroni 0.0 on draught?
35:37 European-inspired market potential
38:37 The BBQ-Q

https://www.asahibeer.co.uk/

Try Asahi Super Dry 0.0 - https://collabs.shop/jnmcmp*
Try Peroni 0.0 - https://collabs.shop/jgsnbk*

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

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Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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Time to tackle the question that comes up again and again: why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much when there’s no alcohol in them?

This is part one of a two-part mini-series on the true cost of drinking alcohol-free.

Today I’m breaking down the industry economics behind your favourite low and no drinks — from the surprising truth that alcohol is often the cheapest ingredient, to the eye-watering costs of research, development, small batch production, and simply getting bottles onto supermarket shelves.

Next time, I’ll flip the script and look at what it costs you personally to drink alcohol-free, and the impact that choice has on your life.

0:00 Why Alcohol-Free Costs the Same
2:19 Alcohol is cheap
3:26 Tradition, research & development
6:20 The technicalities of taste
9:12 Preservation and Shelf-Life Issues
11:20 Small batch production
13:20 Costs of dealcoholisation
17:42 Marketing & promotion
20:19 Distribution: supermarkets & online
25:13 Recouping the costs
26:36 Speculate to accumulate great drinks

Also mentioned:
Days*
Lucky Saint*

Best episode to listen to next:
#102. "No one wanted to work with me" Athletic Brewing's Bill Shufelt
#98. Lyre’s: The Honest Truth
#80. From Seedlip to Seasn to Sylva to Shandy with Ben Branson

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

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Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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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 Denise unpacks both terms and helps you get to understand the difference between them both.

Still not sure which is right for you? Take the 1st and only low/no drinking personality type quiz at https://www.lownodrinkermagazine.com/quiz to find out where you are on your journey and what to do next?

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

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Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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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 recently shared some of his insight with Low No Drinker Magazine readers in the debate on mid-range spirits and their place in a moderation lifestyle.

In this episode Arron and I get into the nitty-gritty of low/no beverages and their place in the UK hospitality experience. 
 
We talk about our combined four decades of experience in bars and the service industry and the good and the bad sides of all we’ve seen. 
 
Arron shares his personal philosophies on life, work and recovery, and honestly, this is like no chat we’ve had on the show before.

Raw, honest and with a unique approach, Arron is the living embodiment of the phrase ‘more than one way to skin a cat’. Aaron's candid revelations about undiagnosed autism and the stigma of sobriety peel back the curtain on an industry often synonymous with excess.

Our discussion spins through the intricacies of mindful drinking, the strategic nuances of integrating alcohol-free options into business models, and the art and science of menu psychology. Aaron's insights are a beacon for those in the industry poised to reshape their offerings in tune with changing tides.

I can’t wait for you to hear this one...

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Find Arron on LinkedIn
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We also talk about
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Lyre's Agave - https://amzn.to/4auUjS9* 

Wednesday's Domaine - https://amzn.to/4dzpEWb*

Guinness 00 - https://amzn.to/3JVkyGj*

Big Drop Stout - https://amzn.to/44S1VwR*

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

===
Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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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.

Co-founded three years ago by childhood best friends Fabian Clark & Rohan Radhakrishnan, the Quarter range includes a 12% Gin & a 12%Tequila – just a quarter of the standard ABV for full-strength spirits.

In our conversation, Rohan shares the origin of Quarter and his own on-and-off love affair with booze, as well as the inspiration that led this dynamic duo to bring the brand to market.

We discuss product placement, public perception and the desperate need for more education all round for the industry to not only grow but to thrive.

As the mid-week drinkers become more discerning about what goes into their glass, Rohan & Fabian become equally discerning about what goes into their drinks; authentic ingredients, expert guidance and masses of trial and error later and this is still only the beginning for Quarter and the light-alcohol market.

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Try Quarter
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We also talk about
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Everleaf - https://amzn.to/4dmMAIi*

Small Beer - https://amzn.to/4a3nsUe*

Days - https://amzn.to/4a32VPt*

Wednesday's Domaine - https://amzn.to/4bn2Vuy*

Pentire - https://amzn.to/3WlfVgd*

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

===
Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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FREE COURSE: OVERCOMING THE HURDLES

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 that his drinks were never made to replicate alcohol and nor were they made for sober drinkers!

Instead, Carl and the Crossip team are making flavour-first drinks for those times when full-strength imbibers are choosing to drink less.

Carl takes me through the creation process of inventing Crossip, which involved a lot of time spent in dark rooms with a lot of booze as he taste-tested his way to just the right formulas for the “currently” three-strong range.

We touch on Carl’s impassioned opinions about the word ‘Mocktail’, and I probe the nation’s favourite television drinks expert for some of his best tips for making low/no cocktails at home. 

This episode is full of open chat, honest opinions and lots of laughs. Get your glasses topped up, and come join us!

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Try Crossip*
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We also talk about
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Real Drinks - https://amzn.to/4aPt7yd*

Small Beer - https://amzn.to/4b40flq*

Kitchen Cocktails by JJ Goodman - https://amzn.to/44cc07o*

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✏️ 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 🤗

FREE COURSE: OVERCOMING THE HURDLES

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.

 These brewmasters take us behind the scenes of their six-month ageing process, revealing how their culinary and fermentation expertise culminates in a drink that's as complex as it is refreshing. From the serendipitous discoveries that shaped their methods to the unfiltered essence that defines their brand, we sip through the artistry that sets Ama's offerings apart from conventional spirits.
 
 Aaron and Danny pour out the challenges and philosophies of crafting these premium drinks, emphasizing their dedication to minimal intervention and sustainable practices incorporating natural ingredients from specialist growers around the globe.

 We also explore the vital role of the Makers Alliance in cultivating a community for small-scale producers and how they strive to preserve their integrity against the backdrop of a market often controlled by the heavy pour of larger corporations. 

Raise your glasses to collaboration and evolution within the craft drink industry, as we celebrate Ama Brewery's journey into the spotlight in fine dining. Aaron and Danny reflect on the importance of language and education in introducing new categories of premium beverages to the discerning palates of consumers and sommeliers alike. 

Join us for an episode that's bursting with the complexity, nuance, and the very essence of what makes a drink not just good, but remarkable.

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AmaBrewery.com
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We also talk about
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Botivo*
The Makers Alliance
Acala
+ more

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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

===
Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.

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FREE COURSE: OVERCOMING THE HURDLES

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 beverage industry, is in a unique position to shed some light on the newest but little-known fad to be impacting the low-and-no industry.

The ‘fat-jab’ is gaining increased notoriety among celebrities, social media and tabloids as everyone from the ex-Prime Minister to your Gran turns to them to help manage their weight loss.

But what is the unrealised knock-on effect on the low-and-no-alcohol beverage industry?

These medications, which are already being used for their side effects and not what they were initially designed for, are affecting how swathes of Americans (and now Brits) are approaching consumption of everything from food to alcohol and the relationships we have with others along the way.

How will the low/no beverage industry respond? Will this mark the launch of yet another new category? Are the short-term effects going to have long-term impacts on independent producers who already face mounting struggles just to keep up with the big-alcohol Joneses?

This is a truly fascinating subject, dive in with me now…


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hra-global.com
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We also talk about
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Hamish's favourite low/no beverage is Lucky Saint*

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✏️ 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 🤗

FREE COURSE: OVERCOMING THE HURDLES


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 resources from land, sea and spice, is redefining the non-alc beverage landscape as a sophisticated choice for those seeking an adult alternative.
 
 The cultural tides are turning, and we're riding the wave towards a future where alcohol-free drinks stand proudly with their alcoholic brethren. Feragaia’s elegantly crafted non-alcoholic spirit challenges our palates and preconceived notions about what a mature beverage experience should be without compromise and without comparison.

In this conversation, we unpack the intricacies of Feragaia‘s unique flavour profile and address the broader societal shift towards mindful drinking. We shine a spotlight on the importance of mental health and the burgeoning acceptance of non-alcoholic options in social settings.
 
 Scotland's rugged beauty, troubled history with alcohol and constant battle against hard-worn stereotypes are the perfect backdrop for innovation and tradition to collide.

Both inspired by and now becoming a B Corp certified business, co-founder Jamie Wild shares a deep connection to nature and a commitment to responsible growth. 

Whether you're a bartender looking for a new muse or a curious spirit ready to explore non-alcoholic masterpieces, Jamie's invitation to collaborate is a call to all beverage creators eager to stir up the drink industry. 

Join us for an episode steeped in inspiration, where every revelation is like a sip of Feragaia —complex, rewarding, and utterly refreshing.


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Try Feragaia*
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✏️ Come hang out with me on Substack - https://mindfuldrinking.substack.com/

===
Take the Midlife Drinking Triggers Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/68dd33385bb4a20015996a13

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*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me keep the show going. Thank you.