Has Your Alcohol Tolerance Changed With Age? Or Could It Actually Be Perimenopause?

Posted on 18/02/2025 by Boris Clair

“My ability to tolerate alcohol, even in small doses, dramatically declined,” Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an OB-GYN and author of “The New Menopause,” wrote in a pinned Instagram post, listing what “shocked” her about her own menopause.

Emma Bardwell, a registered nutritionist who focuses on menopause and perimenopause, said something similar on Instagram recently: “Alcohol and menopause. Not a great mix if we’re all honest, but often a crutch we use to numb the overwhelm.”

Conversations about menopause and alcohol seem to be popping up on social media more lately. But doctors say their patients have been mentioning it for years — saying things like they suddenly feel tipsy after a single drink in their 40s and 50s or that alcohol generally makes them feel lousy.

“This is not something new,” said Dr. Lauren Streicher, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Northwestern University, and host of Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: The Menopause Podcast. “I’ve been doing this for decades, and women have often said to me, ‘Boy, I just can’t drink anymore. It makes my hot flashes worse. I’m already sleeping terribly. It makes my sleep worse.’”

While Streicher said there’s “probably a connection” between alcohol tolerance and perimenopause and menopause, it hasn’t been well studied.

Still, you might be curious about that connection if you’ve reached your 40s and noticed alcohol hits a little differently. Here’s what women’s health experts want you to know.

Is it ageing or perimenopause?

Menopause is a normal part of the aging process for women and refers to the stage when menstrual periods end, and they can no longer get pregnant, according to the National Institute on Aging. The average age of menopause is 51, but perimenopause typically starts eight to 10 years beforehand.

During perimenopause, your levels of the hormone oestrogen start to decline, and this can bring symptoms like hot flashes, low libido, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, mood changes and problems sleeping.

Some also report changes in their alcohol tolerance. But this is likely more age-related than menopause-related, said Dr. Monica Christmas, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, and director of the menopause program at the University of Chicago Medicine and associate medical director of the Menopause Society.

Both men and women lose muscle mass as they age, and the amount of fat in the body increases. Fatty tissue doesn’t retain as much water. So when you drink, the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream becomes more concentrated, Christmas said.

Your liver also doesn’t metabolise alcohol as efficiently and quickly as you get older since your levels of enzymes that break down alcohol also start to decline, she said. Women have lower levels of these enzymes to start with and tend to have less body mass than men, so they naturally process alcohol differently — especially when they get older.

Another factor is that liver function may be impacted by oestrogen, Streicher said. Theoretically, lower oestrogen levels could get in the way of metabolising alcohol, but she noted that this hasn’t been well studied.

Because of these changes, you might feel the effects of alcohol more quickly than you used to or feel hungover even when you didn’t drink much, said Dr. Madeline Dick-Biascoechea, an OB-GYN and director of the Menopause Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center. As your alcohol metabolism changes, “You will have increasing effects of alcohol per volume that you drink as you age,” she said.

How alcohol affects perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

Many women report drinking more alcohol to deal with their menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, mood shifts and sleep disruptions, research shows. However, alcohol can actually make them worse.

Alcohol can worsen many symptoms women experience with perimenopause and menopause, including anxiety, depression, lack of motivation and a loss of interest in activities.

Shifting hormones can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Your blood vessels dilate when you drink alcohol, and this could trigger hot flashes and night sweats, Christmas said.

About half of menopausal women report difficulty sleeping. Sipping a glass of wine in the evenings might make you feel relaxed and sleepy, but it can actually disrupt your quality of sleep, Streicher said.

Many women also experience anxiety, depression, lack of motivation and a loss of interest in activities during menopause — and as a depressant, alcohol can make these mental health challenges worse, Christmas said.

“Drinking alcohol during the time when we’re already experiencing these natural changes related to hormonal fluctuation, alcohol can exacerbate them,” she said. “And so, that also may feel like an intolerance.”

Keep in mind, though, that everyone experiences perimenopause and menopause differently — some women have no symptoms, while others experience them intensely, Christmas added, and not all women notice changes in how alcohol affects them.

What to do if your alcohol tolerance seems to be changing.

Pay attention to how much you’re drinking as you reach perimenopause and menopause, Dick-Biascoechea said. Not only can it potentially worsen symptoms, it could raise your risk for other health conditions.

A 2025 report by the Office of the Surgeon General said that consuming alcohol can raise your risk for breast, colorectal, throat, mouth, voice box, oesophageal and liver cancer. Excessive alcohol intake has also been linked to dementia, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Dick-Biascoechea said women should have no more than one drink per day or seven per week. According to the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, one standard drink equals 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

If you’re drinking more than that, she suggested cutting back, and if that’s a struggle, talk to your doctor for help. Resources are also available at FindTreatment.gov.

Even when you drink in moderation, sip more water with your beer, wine or cocktails, Christmas said. Also, make sure to consume alcohol on a full stomach.

Drinking is “not a solution for your menopause symptoms, and it’s going to have an enormous impact on your overall health,” said Streicher, who asks patients about their alcohol intake when they bring up menopause symptoms.

She added that there are safe, effective solutions for addressing perimenopause and menopause symptoms. This might include hormone therapy, treatments for vaginal dryness, sleep problems or mental health issues, and lifestyle recommendations, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Streicher recommended seeking out a menopause practitioner for help — and added that not all doctors are experienced with menopause or perimenopause. The Menopause Society offers an online tool to help you find an expert in your area.

Ultimately, menopause is a normal stage of life, Dick-Biascoechea said. “But, being normal doesn’t mean that it’s easy. It’s a lot of changes … and keeping yourself as healthy as possible will make this transition better and successful.”

Bridget Jones’s Diary Was Blamed For A Drop In Sales Of This Drink

Posted on 08/02/2025 by Boris Clair

Apparently, the binge-drinking, heavy-smoking, chaotic lifestyle of Bridget Jones isn’t aspirational to some people?

Personally, I can’t relate but according to one expert, the fictional anti-heroine caused a huge slump in sales of her favoured drink around the time of the column in The Independent and, of course, the film’s release back in 2001.

The expert in question is Oz Clarke, a prestigious wine expert and writer from the UK.

‘The blame should be firmly placed at the door of Bridget Jones’

According to The Telegraph in 2008, Clarke said: “Chardonnay has made some of the world’s greatest wines, everyone appreciated it – until Bridget Jones.

“Bridget Jones goes out on the pull, fails, goes back to her miserable bedsit, sits down, pours herself an enormous glass of Chardonnay, sits there with mascara running down her cheeks saying, ‘Dear diary, I’ve failed again, I’ve poured an enormous glass of Chardonnay and I’m going to put my head in the oven.’ Great marketing aid.”

Personally, I would argue that Ms Jones was not supposed to feel relatable to Mr Clarke, and that’s before we even get into the recession that was flooding the UK at the time.

Anyway, I digress.

The Independent reported at the time: “Across Britain fewer people are seeking solace – or enjoyment – in chardonnay. In the past 12 months, 7.5 million shoppers bought it, fewer than the previous year, according to the retail analysts TNS. Meanwhile, rivals such as sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio are rising in popularity.”

Clarke made his comments at London’s first self-storage wine facility, adding: “Until Bridget Jones, chardonnay was really sexy. After, people said, ‘God, not in my bar’.

“If you’re a marketing manager what would you say? ‘OK, I’m going to sell something that makes people feel really miserable. Let’s call it chardonnay!’”

Other experts argued that the drink had simply taken a new direction

Alan Griffiths, former wine director of Berry Brothers, Britain’s biggest wine merchants, said: “The appeal of chardonnay is still very strong. It’s a safer bet for a party. It’s more likely to go down well for a group of 50 than a gewürztraminer or a riesling or a sauvignon blanc, which some people find too grassy or acidic.”

Personally, I’ll be raising a toast to Bridget before seeing the newest instalment of her story.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is out on February 13th in cinemas across the UK.

Here’s How Alcohol Affects Your Cholesterol, And I Had No Idea

Posted on 02/02/2025 by Boris Clair

Did you know that healthy cholesterol levels can change a little by age?

They also differ by gender ― women usually have lower cholesterol readings than men, but this can change after menopause, which causes some peoples’ levels to skyrocket.

And while most of us know that fatty foods, smoking, and staying inactive can also put your cholesterol levels outside of the healthy range, I for one wasn’t aware how much of an effect booze can have on the metric.

According to cholesterol charity Heart UK, alcohol’s better-known toll on your liver can have knock-on effects on your heart.

How does alcohol affect cholesterol?

When we drink alcohol, it gets broken down into triglycerides (a type of fat) and cholesterol in our body.

Triglycerides can settle in our liver, which causes fatty liver if it happens too often.

In that case, Heart UK says your liver stops being as good at removing cholesterol from your system as it should be. That leads to higher cholesterol levels.

“Alcohol can lead to the combination of a high triglyceride level along with low HDL cholesterol,” they add, which may cause heart disease.

Over time, drinking a lot of alcohol can lead to high blood pressure too (this is sometimes referred to as a “silent killer” because it’s linked to heart health issues like cardiac arrest and stroke, but shows few symptoms).

Drinkaware adds that you can even develop a condition called ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome’, when you experience an irregular heartbeat following a period of binge drinking.

How much should I drink to prevent heart issues?

The Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines read: “to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.”

If you do go over those limits, it’s better to do so over three or more days, they advise.

Drinkaware offers a test to see whether your relationship to alcohol may be unhealthy.

If you’re worried about it, seek help ― you don’t have to manage any concerns alone.

Help and support:

Drinkline ― call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9 am to 8 pm, weekends 11 am to 4 pm).
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) ― available online and in-person
Al-Anon Family Groups offer support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers. Alateen is part of Al-Anon and can be attended by 12 to 17-year-olds who are affected by another person’s drinking.
We Are With You is a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.
Adfam is a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol. Adfam operates an online message board and local support groups.
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) provides a free, confidential telephone and email helpline for children of alcohol-dependent parents and others concerned about their welfare. Call 0800 358 3456 for the Nacoa helpline.
SMART Recovery groups help people decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

6 Unexpected Signs Your Pub Pint Glass Is Actually Filthy

Posted on 19/12/2023 by Boris Clair

’Tis the seasons for good food, great company, and yes, a trip to the pub. But as John Cutts, a glass expert at MeandMyGlass.co.uk, says, “it’s easy to get carried away with the celebrations without realising the pint glass you’re drinking from hasn’t been cleaned properly.”

Signs of dirt and oil aren’t always immediately visible when you get a glass, Cutts shared. Instead, telltale bubble and foam patterns might be a better way to give the grime away.

In fact, “A filthy beer glass can be easily identified if bubbles start to cling to the side and if the foam leaves an unusual pattern after taking a sip,” Cutts says.

So, we thought we’d share some of his tips:

1) Bubbles might cling to the side of your glass

This can be a sign of soap residue or grime, Cutts says. The bubbles cling onto the residue on the inside of the glass, causing them to gather on the side of your pint.

2) Look at the foam pattern on the glass

This is known as the “lacing test,” Cutts shared. “Once the glass has been filled and you’ve taken your first sip, take note of the pattern that forms. The lacing that the head will form should be even around the side and create rings as you continue to drink. Any unusual patterns indicate a dirty glass,” he shared.

3) A flattened head that goes away quickly

Nobody likes an overly foamy head ― but “if the head instantly flattens after being poured, it’s a sign that you’ve received a dirty glass,” Cutts says.

4) Check for particles at the bottom of your glass

Okay, it sounds obvious, but Cutts says that if you’re not sure about the state of your glass, checking the bottom of the pint for residue could be illuminating.

“Before taking a sip, lift the glass so you have a full view of any particles floating at the bottom,” he advises.

5) A discoloured rim

Discolouration around the rim of your glass could mean it’s still for some oil lingering on it, Cutts warns (delicious). “Visible marks like fingermarks and lipstick stains are also signs to be wary of,” he warns.

6) It’s all in the taste

Lastly, the final test is how your drink tastes. “If any of the obvious signs aren’t showing, the final and most prominent way to test a dirty glass is the taste of the beer itself. Make sure to have a small first sip to begin with so you’re not washing down a dirty pint,” Cutts warns.

Ah, the joys of socialising…

Jennifer Lopez Responds To Canned Cocktail Critics Who Say ‘She Doesn’t Even Drink’

Posted on 08/07/2023 by Boris Clair

Jennifer Lopez has finally addressed critics of one of her most recent business ventures, a canned cocktail called Delola.

The Jenny from the Block singer drew some backlash in April when she announced her venture into the alcohol industry, since she has spoken in the past about not drinking.

“I have been grinding nonstop for decades and more and more, I realise the importance of enjoying life,” Lopez said in the advertisement announcing Delola. “I just wanted to create something better. Better tasting, better ingredients, something I want to drink with my friends and family, and that is Delola.”

Citing a source close to Lopez, CBS News noted at the time that Lopez has “been pictured drinking at events over the course of her career, but has chosen to limit her drinking to improve both her health and appearance”.

But the singer herself never directly addressed anything on the record ― until now.

“You know what, I know that a lot of people have been talking about, like, ‘Oh, she doesn’t even drink,’” Lopez said in a video posted to Instagram on July 4. “‘What’s she doing, you know, with a cocktail line?’”

“And to tell you the truth, that was true for a long time. I didn’t drink,” she explained. “A few years back ― as you will see from several photos over the past 10, maybe 15 years ― I have been, you know, having the occasional cocktail. I do enjoy the occasional cocktail.”

“I do drink responsibly,” she added. “I don’t drink to get shitfaced. I drink to be social and have a nice time and just kind of relax and let loose a bit, but always responsibly.”

A 2018 InStyle article noted that Lopez “credits her looks to the wholesome habits she’s maintained throughout adulthood: no caffeine, no alcohol, lots of sleep”.

“I’ve taken care of myself, and now it shows,” Lopez told the publication at the time.

While promoting the launch of Delola this past April, Lopez told Food & Wine that she hadn’t “been a big drinker my whole life”.

“For a long time, I didn’t drink at all,” Lopez said. “But I’m very particular, and I wanted [Delola] to be something that’s easy to pour over ice and drink.”

Blake Lively recently received some similar backlash, after the Gossip Girl star, who has spoken about her decision not to drink, launched a cocktail line of her own.

“Drinking isn’t my thing. But for f* sake, flavour is,” Lively wrote last week in the caption of an Instagram post announcing the new line. “Homemade recipes. Real fruit. Real ingredients. Quality booze. No crap. Also a real time saver. Which is why I really did it.”

‘It’s Never Been A Better Time To Be Someone Who Doesn’t Drink’

Posted on 08/01/2023 by Boris Clair

I first removed alcohol from my life around 2015. I have alcohol use disorder, which is how I came to reckon with my relationship with the substance.

This was at a time in New York when alcohol-free cocktails were starting to be taken more seriously. I’m lucky that my alcohol use disorder doesn’t present in a way that makes me uncomfortable being in spaces where alcohol is also being served. So, serendipitously, I entered into the phase of my life where I was no longer drinking alcohol, right when some changes were happening with alcohol-free options.

Bartenders were pushing against the boundaries that had previously limited “mocktails” to unbalanced, syrupy juices. The imagination of the drinks world was moving beyond the Shirley Temple. For someone who wrote about food and drinks and so whose job required her to, in part, be dining out and picking up on what was going on in bars and restaurants, this was impossible not to notice.

“I appreciate things like Dry January, [but] it’s important to remember that sobriety has likely been painful for those with substance use disorders. They make a hard decision every day to stay sober.”

– Julia Bainbridge

Beverage menu real estate was being given to alcohol-free drinks ― those drinks were being given fun names, just like the cocktails were ― that all showed a level of care and intention. So I got in my car and drove cross country a couple of times; that’s how I did research for my book, Good Drinks. It was so clear that something was happening, and I just wanted to celebrate it. It was certainly happening in New York; I guess I wanted to see if it was happening coast to coast.

I really cast a wide net. I wanted to be on the ground, tasting with people and talking to people. There was just such passion and talent across the board, even in smaller towns that you wouldn’t anticipate. So with the book, I almost struggle with saying I wrote it. It rests on the work of professional bartenders, who were the ones thinking about and developing these beverages, and I’m lucky that they allowed me to capitalise on that newfound energy and take a snapshot of what adult alcohol-free drinking was looking like around the country at that point in time.

Something I saw was bartenders who had come to not drinking themselves, and a light bulb kind of going off the next time they looked at their offerings, deciding that they wanted to better serve people like themselves or their friends who no longer drank alcohol, but still enjoyed the pleasure of a good drink.

I think we almost do these drinks a disservice by comparing them to cocktails. Stop worrying about whether or not it tastes akin to an alcoholic version of the drink and just focus on whether or not it tastes good, you know?

I’m lucky to currently live in New York, where you’re sort of hard-pressed to find a restaurant that’s not being more thoughtful about that. It’s never been a better time to be someone who doesn’t drink.

And when it comes to the drinks themselves, most of the spirits, the non-alcoholic spirits on the market, are not meant to be drunk neat, or without some kind of mixer, even if that mixer is just tonic or soda water. And I think brands have done a good job of showing consumers how to use these products via recipes on their websites, but you have to know to seek out that information. And many people don’t; I wouldn’t if I weren’t, in essence, studying this category. I would encourage people to go to the websites of the products they buy to get some guidance.

So that said, just like consumers need to be educated about how to use these products, so do professional bartenders, and not all of them are taking that on. Someone who is skilled at making classic alcoholic cocktails won’t necessarily be skilled in this realm because the liquids themselves operate differently. It’s not a plug-and-play situation. By which I mean you can’t necessarily substitute two ounces of alcohol-free gin for the gin and a cocktail recipe.

“I’m not anti-alcohol. … It’s pleasurable, and it’s fine for those who can manage it consistently well. But I’m also glad that there’s increasingly more room to talk about the many and nuanced ways in which it’s hard to do that.”

But in these past few years, brands really are showing up strong. I think wine, in particular, is improving as the technology has improved, to allow for gentler dealcoholisation methods. Alcohol-free wines are getting legitimately good. And some even are able to carry through a subtle varietal character. And that’s hard, that’s hard to do. But finally, we just have people actually putting money and effort into this. I think we’re going to see more functional alcohol-free beverages come to the market in the near future.

I think the popularity of Dry January, and certainly that there are all these products on the market, says something. Maybe I’m also reluctant to overstate the alcohol-free trend because what we also know about people’s drinking behaviour, and certainly through Covid, is that there’s still a lot of problematic and unhealthy drinking going on. But in general, I like Dry January. It started as a public health campaign, and I think it’s safe to say it has become a real cultural phenomenon.

In my opinion, it lowers the barrier to entry into examining one’s relationship to alcohol. And we have to remember alcohol is a drug, and it’s a highly addictive one. It’s really not unusual to develop some kind of problem with it, at least for a little while. My point is that most of us have had, at least, a brush with alcohol’s more destructive side. And I think it could be argued that that’s part of the reason that Dry January has become such a welcome pause.

I’m not anti-alcohol. I think it’s inextricably linked with our history. It’s pleasurable, and it’s fine for those who can manage it consistently well. But I’m also glad that there’s increasingly more room to talk about the many and nuanced ways in which it’s hard to do that. And by that I mean, like, consume it in a healthy way on a regular basis. I think it really does help open the door to that conversation a little further.

I guess I’ll get on my soapbox a little. I do think we should be careful not to lump together the sober curious and those in recovery. I think one day, hopefully, the distinction won’t matter, and the paradigm will shift to the point that this just isn’t a thing. Drink, don’t drink, whatever. We don’t need a label. We don’t need a dedicated dry month.

But while I very much appreciate that some people are choosing a sober lifestyle, and as I said, I appreciate things like Dry January, it’s important to remember that sobriety has likely been painful for those with substance use disorders. They make a hard decision every day to stay sober. And to do that, they usually have to engage in multiple forms of treatment. I think we do have to acknowledge that sobriety has been hard-won for many people.

Julia Bainbridge is a James Beard Award-nominated writer and editor who has worked at and written for a variety of publications, including Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. In 2020, her book Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You’re Not Drinking for Whatever Reason was named one of the best cookbooks of 2020 by the LA Times, Wires and Esquires magazines. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Columbia University.

Help and support:

5 Signs Your ‘Dry January’ Should Maybe Be A Permanent Thing

Posted on 06/01/2023 by Boris Clair

So you’re trying Dry January – aka a month of no alcoholic beverages. Perhaps you’re doing it to save money, because you’re worried you drink a little too much or because your friend doesn’t want to do it alone.

Regardless, there’s probably a part of you that’s “sober-curious,” meaning you’re thinking about how alcohol affects you and your life.

As you skip out on drinks throughout the month, you may notice signs that make you even more sober-curious. Maybe you realise how much you’ve been relying on alcohol or how much better your life is without it.

Below, experts share the signs your Dry January challenge should become a more permanent part of your lifestyle and list tips for sticking with it.

1. You realise all you’ve missed out on because of drinking

While alcohol is something many of us turn to when we feel upset, want to have fun or need to wind down, it can also limit our lives. For example, when you’re drunk, you can’t drive to a Zumba class or play with your baby niece.

“Dry January presents a host of opportunities to experience what we otherwise might have missed out on,” says Brook McKenzie, the chief operating officer at Renewal Lodge by Burning Tree, an addiction treatment center. With all that extra time you had during Dry January, he explained, you might have gotten to try something new and exciting.

Further, you might recognise all you missed out on — either in general or sober. “Often, due to the prevalence of alcohol in our culture, people can go years — even decades — without having experienced things like a first kiss, an intimate conversation, a child’s first steps, a movie, meal, birthday, [or] Christmas without the use of alcohol,” says James Hartley, a U.K.-based counsellor who’s been sober for three and a half years.

2. Your interests change

According to Hartley, you may find your old interests boring or need to re-find the value of something without a drink.

“Enjoying yourself without alcohol takes some relearning, and you might find that some things you thought you enjoyed, you actually don’t, and you might find that you start developing new interests,” he says.

For example, you might find more value in small group gatherings than parties, or enjoy playing recreational soccer over drinking alone at home.

3. You feel better emotionally, mentally and physically

As you probably know, alcohol can make you feel groggy, moody and nauseous, to start. So, abstaining from it has many benefits.

“You might experience an increase in energy, alertness, positive thinking, less depressed symptoms, more restful sleep and overall an improvement in your well-being,” says Cathrin Moeller, a licensed marriage and family therapist with Thriveworks in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who specialises in addiction, depression, coping skills, stress and relationships.

Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, explained how this works: “As we all know, alcohol is a depressant and it impacts our brain’s ‘happy’ hormones, like serotonin and dopamine,” she says. “One of the benefits of cutting out alcohol is that you’re likely to feel more balanced in mood, less anxious, etc.” Those changes may help you at your job, too, as work feels more doable and less stressful.

4. Your relationships have improved

Since alcohol can take us away from friends, family, special events and more, you may have noticed the deepening of your relationships in Dry January.

“People are coming around [you] more, they are [giving] positive feedback that drinking less has been good for them, and [your] interactions with people are more genuine and less superficial,” says Kendall Phillips, a licensed professional counselor.

Connecting with others in a meaningful way is vital to our well-being. It can lengthen your life, strengthen your immune system and lower levels of anxiety and depression.

5. Staying away from alcohol was difficult for you

If you notice distressing emotions come up more than they have in other months – and wish you could quiet them with a drink – that could be because you used alcohol to numb them in the past, according to Moeller.

“If that is the case, it is important to seek support in working through this with a licensed mental health professional,” she adds.

Ultimately, it comes down to dependence. “The main difference between social drinking and being a ‘problem drinker’ is reliance,” Touroni says. Some signs of reliance she shared are struggling without having alcohol to turn to, thinking about alcohol a lot and feeling like you need it in social situations.

“If during this period a person is having physical, emotional or psychological cravings and withdrawals, this does signify a more serious problem,” adds Dee Johnson, an addiction therapist based at Priory Hospital Chelmsford in the UK. As a result, staying away from alcohol may be especially difficult – and something you need professional help with, she says, as Dry January can be dangerous for people whose bodies are addicted to alcohol.

Dry January is a good way to examine your relationship with alcohol and decide whether you should make more concrete changes to your drinking habits.

Do those signs necessarily mean you’re dealing with addiction?

The short answer: No. However, continuing to pay attention to your relationship with alcohol is crucial.

“Alcohol misuse is usually a slow burner that increases subtly over time, to the point that as physical tolerance levels slowly increase, it is quite common for the realisation to hit that there really is an issue only at crisis or near to [the] crisis point,” Johnson says.

(FYI, the signs of alcoholism include feeling powerless to alcohol, drinking in high-risk situations, developing a tolerance, noticing withdrawal symptoms without it, facing problems in your personal and professional life because of your need for alcohol, and more.) Also, Johnson adds, you don’t have to drink “every day” or “just the hard stuff” to have an addiction.

Truth be told, we all have something we turn to when we need to cope: sex, food, alcohol, yoga, friends. To some degree, that’s normal and OK. The problem is when it interferes with your life and well-being.

“What’s important is the relationship you have to that thing and whether, in the long term, that is preventing you from living a fuller and more contented life,” Hartley adds. “Whether you term yourself as ‘an addict’ is irrelevant: The truth is, you have a problem with the way things currently are, and it may be worthwhile having a go at changing that a little.”

Tips For Exploring A Sober Lifestyle

Regardless of how you define your relationship with alcohol, what can help you avoid it (especially when it’s basically everywhere)? Here are some options, straight from these experts:

Working with a therapist
Asking your family and friends to support you
Practicing new coping skills
Leaning in to your religion or spirituality
Finding new hobbies and interests
Asking someone to be your accountability partner
Attending meetings focused on quitting alcohol
Not going to bars
Taking it one day at a time
Thinking about how much better you feel
Brainstorming your goals (those related to staying sober and other ones).

If you slip up, be gentle with yourself. This happens, and your hard work isn’t lost. “It is part of the journey to experience setbacks, as with any goal,” Moeller said. “Think of it as part of the journey versus a failure.”

Remember, you’re not alone in what you’re going through, and help is out there.

Help and support:

This Is The Exact Age Your Hangovers Become Hell, Apparently

Posted on 21/06/2022 by Boris Clair

Remember being 21, drinking whatever you could get your hands on (i.e the cheapest booze) with nary but a piece of toast to line your stomach? And somehow the next morning, you were still fine to make it to uni, or work, or just a day of youthful hedonism?

Well yeah, at some point that changes and out comes the hangover from hell to humble you.

There’s something about getting older that makes you more likely to experience the dreaded hangover sickness – headaches, a raging stomach, nausea, and other fun things.

And now, researchers have put a number on when you’re most likely to feel rough. And sorry 34-year-olds, it’s not looking good.

Greeting cards company Thortful carried out a survey of 2,000 people and found that post 34, you’re likely to start getting raging hangovers. And after 35, the dreaded after effects of drinking seem to last two days.

The survey found that we only start realising our boozy limits at age 37, while a year later is when people feel ‘too old’ to go out-out.

You’d think that as we get older, and thus more acclimatised to drinking, our bodies would be used to it. But actually it’s kind of the opposite.

“This means there are more toxins in our bodies for longer as they’re broken down more slowly into carbon dioxide and water,” Booker previously told HuffPost UK.

But before it can get to the CO2 and water stage, alcohol is broken down by the liver into a number of different substances, including the compound acetaldehyde. Dr Niall Campbell, consultant psychiatrist at Priory’s Roehampton Hospital, explained that as we age, our ability to metabolise acetaldehyde is reduced.

“That’s what you can smell on a heavy drinker’s breath the morning after the night before,” he said. “High acetaldehyde levels in heavy, steady drinkers is increasingly implicated in causing cancer.”

To add insult to injury, we’re just not fit as we once were. “More body fat and less muscle make the alcohol we consume more concentrated in the body, leading to dehydration and worsening the dreaded hangover,” Booker said.

After your mid-twenties it takes the body longer to recover from anything due to increasing levels of inflammation and chronic diseases, which your immune system and liver are busy fighting, said Dr Campbell.

You’re also more likely to be taking prescription medication as you get older. “These medicines can alter the way your body breaks down alcohol, leaving you with a worse hangover,” he said

Booker recommends drinking more water before, during and after boozing to limit the effects of alcohol as we age. But of course, the only way to truly avoid a hangover (and the long term damaging impacts of alcohol) is to cut your intake altogether.

Oh goody.

How Alcohol Affects Your Body When You’re On A Flight

Posted on 27/04/2022 by Boris Clair

Ordering beer, wine or a cocktail while flying is a common move. For some, having an alcoholic beverage on the plane is a travel day essential to relax, take the edge off, celebrate a vacation or even to fall asleep on a long flight.

But is this really the best option? Alcohol can leave you groggy and dehydrated. When consumed in excess, it may lower inhibitions and lead to unruly behavior, which we saw a lot of when people reacted negatively to federal mask mandates.

We reached out to some experts in medicine and nutrition, and asked if alcoholic beverages were a good idea while flying. Here’s what we found out about how alcohol affects your body while you’re up in the air.

Is it a bad idea to order alcohol on a flight?

There’s no easy answer to this question, experts say. Ordering a beer or wine while flying is a personal decision that might work for one person and not for the person sitting next to them. “If a person is on edge due to flying in general — and doesn’t become more so with alcohol — sometimes having a beverage might relax them or make the process feel a little bit more pleasant or more ordinary,” said Wendy Bazilian, a registered dietitian nutritionist.

But while some may grab a drink as a celebratory kickoff for a long-awaited trip, others may experience side effects while drinking on a plane.

You may not sleep well.

It’s tempting to order a drink in hopes that it will help you fall asleep and get some much-needed rest on an overnight flight. But this isn’t necessarily the greatest idea, according to the experts we spoke to. “Even though you think it relaxes you, your sleep will be disrupted and you likely will not get into REM sleep, the type of sleep that is restorative,” said Amy Shapiro, a registered dietitian at Real Nutrition.

You may doze off after a glass of wine, but your sleep won't be as restful. — You may doze off after a glass of wine, but your sleep won’t be as restful.

Drinking on a flight doesn’t promote restorative sleep but can help some people fall asleep, Bazilian points out. “If in moderation … if she or he believes it helps a little to ease into sleep, then that can be fine.”

You may become dehydrated.

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means your body will increase its output of urine. If you don’t drink additional water to make up for this fluid loss, you may quickly become dehydrated, Shapiro said.

You may become intoxicated without even realizing.

“There is usually very little food available on most flights — or it is not particularly appetizing — and it would be easy to drink too much on a relatively empty stomach,” said Dr. Karen Jubanyik, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. It would be very easy to drink the same amount you drink at home, but without adequate food intake, this amount might be too much, she said.

There’s also the fact that most people are pretty sedentary on a flight, rarely leaving their seat. When you do get up, you may find you’re feeling the effects of alcohol more than expected.

You could become disruptive.

We all know that drinking alcohol can lower inhibitions. This could cause an individual to become loud and disrespectful to the flight crew and fellow passengers. People with lowered inhibitions may have a harder time staying calm when annoyed by small inconveniences and actions of people nearby, like a fully reclined seat back. “If someone has lowered inhibitions, they may speak their mind or start a confrontation with another passenger over relatively small things, which can also land them in trouble,” Jubanyik said.

You may have trouble moving around the plane.

“Progressive intoxication can lead to slurred speech, trouble with coordination and trouble walking,” Jubanyik said. “Just walking to and using the bathroom or exiting the plane could be difficult.”

The good news? You can drink on a flight if you keep some recommendations in mind.

Sipping a cocktail while commuting home from a work trip or while en route to a vacation doesn’t carry a ton of benefits, but you can still enjoy a drink while flying if it’s a behavior that works for you.

“It can be helpful in relaxing you or easing anxiety in the beginning, and since many people are anxious flyers, this can help,” Shapiro said, while also pointing out that drinking too much can lead to increased anxiety and have a boomerang effect, so it is important to know your limit.

Sometimes you may just want to order a drink simply because you feel like having one (many of us regularly do so after work or on the weekends), and this is fine when done in moderation and with a few tips in mind.

Don’t drink on an empty stomach.

If you plan to drink alcohol on a flight, pack some snacks and make sure to eat a meal before boarding if you know there won’t be any in-flight food service.

“Eating food alongside alcohol can help maintain energy and steady blood sugar while your body processes the alcohol,” Bazilian said.

Stay hydrated.

The experts we spoke to recommend alternating each alcoholic drink with at least one or two glasses of water. “This will help you to remain hydrated and to feel the negative effects less,” Shapiro said. Electrolyte drinks can also help, and if you have the chance, fill up your water bottle in the airport before takeoff. Water and other nonalcoholic drinks aren’t always readily available throughout the flight, so sometimes it’s just easier to carry your own.

Don’t drink if you’re going to be renting a car upon arrival.

“It is particularly a bad idea to drink alcohol if you will be renting a car and will need to drive upon arriving at your destination,” Jubanyik said. “Even if not technically drunk, driving in an unfamiliar location will likely require additional attention and reaction time than one needs in their local environment.”

Pace yourself.

It’s easy to drink quickly on a flight or to grab another drink simply as a way to pass time. Along with staying hydrated and taking a breather between drinks, Bazilian recommends paying close attention to how much alcohol you’re consuming. “One of those little alcohol bottles on a plane is typically 1.5 or 1.7 ounces, not a 1-ounce pour, and the mini-bottles of wine may be more than a 3-ounce pour. Just be aware that one drink [on a flight] may be more than you count as one when you’re on the ground.”

Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks And Spirits That Pass For The Real Deal

Posted on 19/01/2022 by Boris Clair

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Non-alcoholic drinks have come a long way since the days of one or two beer choices – and nothing else.

Today, you’ll find non-alcoholic gin, rum, vodka, prosecco and espresso martini alternatives available to buy. And the beers have come on a bit, too.

It’s no surprise that businesses are investing in alcohol-free drinks. Almost one in three (32%) UK drinkers now “semi-regularly” consume low and no alcohol products, according to research by mindful drinking movement Club Soda.

And interestingly, alcohol drinkers are the main buyers of non-alcoholic products, rather than people who are 100% teetotal.

Whether you avoid booze all year round, you’re trying Dry January, or you just want to cut down a little, there’s plenty of options to fill your drinks cabinet. To help you stock up on the best ones, we’ve reviewed some of the more intriguing options out there.

Lyre’s Espresso Martini Set, 70cl each, £44.65

“An espresso martini might not be the most obvious drink of choice when you’re not drinking, but hear me out. Picture this: you’re at a gathering and it’s getting late. You’re not drinking but your friends have been on the sauce all day (or night) and it’s starting to get loud. Very loud. Your energy levels are starting to wane; their voices start to grate. You need a miracle to stay up any longer. This is where the espresso martini comes in.

“Lyre’s espresso martini set features Coffee Originale (to replace the coffee liquor) and White Cane Spirit (a non-alcoholic rum alternative which has been chosen to replace the vodka). An interesting choice, but it works. The Coffee Orginale is rich with a gorgeous mix of spice and caramel, perfectly offset by the orange and coconut in the cane spirit. The recipe is simple to follow too: you need to add your own espresso or cold-drip coffee and vanilla syrup (but I leave the latter out as I don’t have any in the house). Delicious.

“For me, this may not be the non-alcoholic drink I have on tap, but for the right occasion and moment it would be a life saver.” – Brogan Driscoll, senior editor, commercial partnerships

Buy the set via Lyre, or both spirits separately on Amazon

Nozeco 75cl, £4.15

“The Nozeco has the same sleek look as a bottle of prosecco, making it a great alcohol-free option to bring out at parties where people aren’t drinking.

“The first time I tried this was at a bridal party where none of the attendees were drinkers and it went down a treat. It still tastes good, like you’re drinking the real thing, but without the kick. I would definitely use in future for parties and gatherings.” – Faima Bakar, Life reporter

Buy the Nozeco here

Everleaf Mountain Non-Alcoholic Pink Gin 50cl, £19

“Call me basic, but I’ve got a soft spot for pink gin, though I usually consume it via a tinny in the park on a warm summer’s day, instead of at my desk in January. Still, the Everleaf version is low calorie and vegan – as well as non-alcoholic – so I decide that’s acceptable.

“When I take a swig to try it neat, I’m a little alarmed by how soapy it tastes. But when mixed with tonic and garnished with berries as recommended, the gin is transformed. Flavours of cherry blossom, rosehip and strawberry come through, but they’re perfectly balanced with piney juniper, and avoid being too sweet. I would never guess it’s alcohol-free.

“The classy bottle gets extra points from me, and I can imagine offering it to teetotal pals with hors d’oeuvres on the patio, or taking it along to a baby shower. I drain the glass and am dreaming of summer for the remainder of the afternoon.” – Rachel Moss, Life editor

Buy the Everleaf Mountain pink gin here.

Clean.Co Clean T Tequila Alternative 70cl, £16 (was £19)

“As someone who loves tequila based drinks – margaritas are my summer go-to – I feel unsure as I pour my first glass of this clean tequila alternative, drizzling the clear liquid over ice.

“However, when I catch a whiff of the agave-based ‘blanco tequila’, I feel I’ve judged too quickly and my first sip confirms it’s a real treat that closely mimics alcoholic tequila. I didn’t imagine an alcohol-free spirit could have such a similar taste.

“The green agave combines with aromas of oak and olive, sweet melon and subtle mixed fruits, all with a dry, peppery finish that catches in the throat just like my favourite tequila. It’s not only low calorie and free from sugar and sweetener, but vegan, and lactose and gluten free. For an alcohol-free margarita – or other tequila-based drink – this alternative works perfectly.” – Beth Mahoney, HuffPost Shopping reporter

Buy Clean T tequila alternative here

Caleno Dark & Spicy Non-Alcoholic Spirit 50cl, £15

“Rum is by far my favourite alcoholic beverage. White rum and pineapple juice? That’s a bit of me. While I planned to do Dry January this year, I failed on the first day, but I’m still intrigued to see what a non-alcoholic version tastes like.

“The Dark and Spicy alcohol-free spirit from Caleno has a very rum-ish smell to it. If I closed my eyes and opened the bottle, I would have sworn it was alcohol. And there’s an almost alcoholic kick to the taste, too. I drink it with apple juice and it’s almost as good as the real deal. Overall, I’m very impressed and would drink this again.” – Habiba Katsha, Life reporter

Buy Caleno non-alcoholic ‘rum’ here.

Clean.Co Clean R Rum Alternative, 70cl for £16 (was £19)

“I adore spiced rum and have high hopes for this ‘clean’ spiced rum alternative. Boy, am I impressed (as is my spiced rum loving fiancé who can be rather picky). When I unscrew the lid, we’re both note how warming and spicy it smells – much like a traditional Caribbean spiced rum.

“When poured over ice, the flavours of golden caramel, cayenne pepper and other (apparently secretly guarded) spices pack a powerful punch. It’s mildly sweet and wonderfully spicy; it works well drunk neat over ice or – as I found out – mixed with Coca-Cola or ginger beer for an extra kick.

“Like other Clean.Co drinks, it’s lactose and gluten free, and made without sugar or sweetener. In fact, the only downside is that it’s too easy to drink – somehow we managed finish off the bottle in just a few days.” – Beth Mahoney, HuffPost Shopping reporter

Buy the Clean R rum alternative here

**Strykk Not V*dka Non-Alcoholic Spirit 70cl, £12 (was £18) 1/2**

“Who needs a real voddie when you’ve got Not V*dka? It’s got a serious kick to it! Sip this non-alcoholic vodka neat and it leaves a ferocious, fiery tingle on your tongue that lingers for an age. It’s like drinking your auntie’s homemade ginger beer, the one that burns (in a nice way!).

“Not V*dka delivers a heat akin to pepper sauce and after it’s finished with your tongue, the fire nestles deep down in your throat. For that reason I wouldn’t suggest mixing it with ginger beer. Coke, orange juice, cranberry and sprite as chasers – all of which I tried – will all add much needed flavour. With no artificial colours, no fat, no sugar it’s perfect if you’re watching your alcohol and calorie intake. And if you’re looking for subtle sweetness, Not V*dka Vanilla which has undertones of cream soda, might hit the right note too.” – Melanie Grant, audience editor HuffPost Shopping

Buy the Strykk Not V*dka here

Big Drop Brewing Co. Galactic Milk, 12 x 330ml cans £19.20 (£1.60 per can)

“I have only really had Guinness when in Northern Ireland, where (according to the rumours) it tastes best. It’s never really been up to scratch when I’ve had it elsewhere. But I did find myself repeatedly sipping this low-alcoholic version, which was a surprise, especially since I am usually more of a gin ‘n’ tonic person.

“Significantly less bitter than the more mainstream version, it really does have ‘chocolatey notes’ – as per its online description – although the honeycomb elements don’t particularly come through.

“It’s definitely not as heavy as the original beverage, and it seems like it’s somewhere in between a soft drink and an alcoholic one in taste. Despite calling itself ‘alcohol-free’, the drink is actually 0.5% ABV, (so it does have a little alcohol in). It might just about satisfy any Guinness drinkers who have opted for a slightly damp January.” – Kate Nicholson, senior trends reporter

Buy the Galactic Milk stout here.

Sea Arch Alcohol Free Distilled Spirit 70cl, £19

“I’m sorry to say that this drink most definitely does not taste much like the real deal, even though it does come in a beautifully designed bottle.

“While relatively enjoyable – if you like botanical beverages – it lacks the really tasty punch I associate both with alcoholic gins and successful non-alcoholic substitutes. The unusual flavours of kemp, blood orange, coriander and cardamon do come through, but there’s nothing more substantial in the drink meaning it does end up a little too watery, in my opinion.

“If you were looking for a substitute for Dry January, this drink might just miss the mark – whereas if you’ve never really been into anything that tastes too alcoholic, this might be up your street.” – Kate Nicholson, senior trends reporter

Buy the Sea Arch alcohol-free gin here.

Birra Moretti Zero Alcohol Free Beer, 3 x 330ml, £10.99

“I am no fan of beer, the last time I tried an alcohol-free beer was nearly a decade ago and I’ve not looked back since. But I gave this one a go and was pleasantly surprised. It didn’t have the same bitter taste I remembered. It’s quite oaky and flat, the taste feels muted. So while I could keep drinking this without any unpleasantness, I’d probably choose not to. My partner who is an avid beer drinker however really enjoyed it and said he could be fooled into thinking it’s the real thing.” – Faima Bakar, Life reporter

Buy the beer here.

Abstinence Non-Alcoholic Blood Orange Aperitif 75cl, £12.79 (was £15.99),

“Just like the drink itself, trying this zero-alc Aperol alternative was a bittersweet experience. Let’s face it, sipping this on a chilly January afternoon, dressed in four layers is not what this particular beverage is made for. That said (here comes the sweet bit), it was an uncharacteristically sunny day when I tried it out – and the packaging is beautiful. The drink itself, less so.

“The instructions suggest mixing 50ml of the aperitif with 200ml of soda water or tonic. I opted for soda water but the result was way too bitter for my palette. The boozy version includes Prosecco, which brings the sweetness – so adding a dash of Nozeco might improve things. I haven’t quite given up on being transported to a sunny terrace on a hot July afternoon minus the hangover, but when that day actually does arrive, Dry Jan will be all but a distant memory. – Matt Bagwell, Head of Entertainment

Buy the Abstinence Blood Orange Aperitif here

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