On Day One of our Mindful Drinking Advent Series, learn how to set a clear, grounded intention for Christmas so you can navigate parties, pressure, and festive chaos on your own terms. 

Today’s episode helps you pause before December sweeps you away, reduce drinking on autopilot, and choose a more mindful, meaningful season.

0:00 Welcome To the Advent Series

4:33 Why Intentions Matter This Month

7:23 Craft Your Personal Guiding Sentence

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

GET YOUR FREE MINDFUL DRINKING ADVENT CALENDAR AT http://mindfuldrinkingadvent.com/

Eighteen uncomfortable truths about mindful drinking at Christmas that nobody talks about.

From managing social pressure and family dynamics to handling drunk friends and awkward questions, I'm preparing you for the reality of festive drinking culture when you're choosing moderation or sobriety with 18 real-world quick-fire scenarios.

From FOMO & boundaries, to peer pressure & how to navigate Christmas parties, work dos and family gatherings with less alcohol on your own terms.

3:40 They won't stop asking
4:33 Assumptions
5:07 People will make it weird
6:02 They'll call you brave
7:03 Just one
8:11 You'll become boring
9:34 Your BS tolerance tumbles
10:56 You might not like your friends
12:10 Some things will be worse sober
13:05 You will feel left out
14:25 Nostalgia is a bitch
16:30 Feeling self-righteous
18:27 Awkward silences
19:42 Your mum will worry
20:55 Dad jokes
23:24 The designated everything

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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

Hamish Renton returns to discuss the latest developments in FAT JAB agonists—those increasingly ubiquitous fat jabs that are reshaping not just waistlines but drinking habits too.

With 5% of the UK population now using these compounds, they're silencing "drink noise," changing socialising patterns, and creating opportunities for functional beverages and nootropic drinks.

We explore the triple action of the latest compounds, the risks and benefits, and crucially, why these drugs aren't a substitute for doing the mental work around your relationship with alcohol.

3:21 What fat jabs do for drinkers?
5:01 5% of people
7:08 Triple impact on drinking?
11:10 Permanent change or temporary salve?
15:19 Dosage & Side Effects
23:26 Still "fat" inside: You need to do the work
32:20 The 'bad breath' problem
33:28 Where's the joy?
34:39 Boost to midlife sober clubbing
38:36 Finding Hamish & HRA-Global

HRA Global - https://hra-global.com/
Hamish's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishrenton/

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
Longbottom - https://collabs.shop/5x4jom
Bloody Ben’s - https://amzn.to/4pc8OBP*
Big Tom - https://amzn.to/4qYtYoV
Ep#13 Fat Jabs & Drinking Low/No - https://www.lownodrinker.com/lndpodcast/fatjabs

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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

The festive season isn't one massive willpower test—it's death by a thousand shots. With six weeks of relentless celebrations from Thanksgiving through New Year's, willpower alone won't cut it.

In this episode, I unpack why beliefs, not willpower, are the real key to changing your drinking habits.

I share a four-step framework for gathering evidence to challenge limiting beliefs about alcohol, celebrations, and what fun actually means.

From assessing your self-talk to testing new behaviours at family gatherings, this episode gives you practical tools to navigate the season's cumulative exhaustion and build a Christmas that serves you on your own terms, not some outdated template from the past.

0:00 Death by a Thousand Shots
1:40 Willpower Explained
3:17 What Are Beliefs?
4:47 Thoughts, Actions, Outcomes, Beliefs
8:07 Gathering Evidence
8:35 Step One: Evidence From The Past
10:53 Step Two: Look to the Future
13:57 Step Three: Field Test
16:49 Step Four: Rebuild Your Beliefs System
20:07 What Truly Sustains Change
21:11 December Dailies And Advent Calendar
22:15 Power Hour Coaching

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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

This December, I'm taking the podcast daily throughout the festive season.

From December 1st, I'll be delivering short, focused episodes created to support your mindful drinking journey through what can be the most challenging time of year for mindful drinkers. 

Each bite-sized episode will give you practical tips, motivation, and strategies to navigate Christmas parties, family gatherings, and New Year celebrations on your terms. 

If you've been dreading another booze-heavy festive season, this daily dose of support is exactly what you need. 

Sign up for the companion Mindful Drinking Advent Calendar at mindfuldrinkingadvent.com for exclusive drink recommendations and discounts too.

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

 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

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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 B

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Take the 90-second quiz to find out your midlife drinking motivators + get your free bonus https://www.lownodrinker.com/
===


If you’ve decided to drink differently but still want to enjoy your social life, this episode is your ultimate guide to mindful nights out.

I walk you through how to plan before, during, and after your evening so you can stay in control and still have fun.

From setting clear intentions and managing expectations with friends, to communicating with the bar staff and why staying hydrated is so important as we age, if you do decide to drink.

We’ll look at practical moderation techniques like zebra striping and coasting, plus, importantly, how to reflect without judgment the next day.

Because drinking less in midlife shouldn’t mean missing out on good times with good friends.

0:00 Before, During, After: The Plan
3:03 Set Intentions That Aren’t About Alcohol
7:13 Manage Expectations
9:32 Research Venues And Low/No Menus
10:37 Moderation Methods And Personal Rules
12:29 At The Venue: Quality Over Quantity
14:28 Slow Down, Pause, And Check In
17:24 Mindfully low, no and light
19:57 The Morning After The Night Before
21:39 No Failure, Only Learning


Also mentioned:
ep#114 KAM Insights
ep#63 Zebra Striping & Bookending
ep#74 Coasting

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Take the 90-second quiz to find out your midlife drinking motivators + get your free bonus https://www.lownodrinker.com/

Changing your drinking habits doesn't just affect you – it impacts your partner too.

Today, I'm exploring why your other half might be struggling with your decision to drink less, even when they have the best intentions.

From fears about losing shared rituals to worries about their own drinking habits being challenged, I break down nine key concerns partners face and, crucially, how to navigate these conversations with honesty and compassion.

Whether you're worried your relationship can't survive your mindful drinking journey or you're facing resistance from your partner, this episode offers practical strategies for getting on the same page and building a stronger relationship together.

0:00 Why drinking changes can rock relationships
1:56 No blame allowed
3:49 Relationship fears: Will our dynamic change?
6:23 Losing shared drinking rituals
8:26 Uncertainty about what’s next
9:52 Emotional vulnerability
11:07 The impact on shared spending
12:19 Fears about themself: Holding up a mirror
13:17 Judgement & Pressure to change
14:19 Genuine concern for your well-being
14:59 Why you need their support

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

Katy Moses, founder of KAM Insight, joins me to unpack the latest findings from their groundbreaking "Drinking Differently" report, produced in partnership with Lucky Saint.

Katie reveals why moderation—not abstinence—is the real story driving the low and no revolution, with 76% of UK adults actively employing tactics to reduce alcohol intake.

We explore the £800 million opportunity pubs are missing by defaulting to tap water, why the over-55s are finally joining younger generations in moderating, and how terms like "zebra striping" and "bookending" have helped the industry understand changing consumer behaviour.

Katy shares crucial insights on what venues need to do to capture this growing market and why flexibility has become the defining word of our drinking culture.


0:00 Katy's story
5:27 Why 'drinking differently'?
9:57 It's not all about Gen-Z
12:13 Flexibility & choice
18:26 Welcome to the over 55s
25:19 The Health Halo
30:47 The language of moderation
36:49 Where to find the report
38:57 The BBQ-Q

Get the KAM Insights Low+No Report

Also mentioned:
Trip*
Lucky Saint Lemon*
Everleaf*

===
🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

===
🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: What you get vs. what it costs
https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

===
🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

===
🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
https://www.lownodrinker.com/

===
💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Bartender with code LOWNODRINKERMAGAZINE
https://wisebartender.co.uk/lownodrinkermagazine *

===
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.