Month: January 2025

He recently sold his music catolog.

I’ve been helping women change their relationship with alcohol for nearly 10 years. Based on what they tell me and my own experience I’ve been able to identify a “tipping point” when alcohol starts to take away a lot more than it gives.

That’s the point when we need to quit… or at least cut down a bit.

How Did We Get Here?

Many of us have a similar story – we discover alcohol in our teens, and it gives us confidence and helps us to fit in. We use it to have fun in our 20s and 30s.

Then as we become parents, the mommy juice culture kicks in, and we may use a glass or two of wine as a “parenting aid” which means that the “switch” has begun.

The switch from using alcohol for socialising with our friends to something a bit darker. We start to use it as a coping mechanism, often drinking alone to relieve our anxiety and stress.

Mid-Life Challenges Kick In

The challenges of mid-life often result in over-drinking. Whether we are struggling with an “empty nest” or managing elderly parents (or both!), it’s often a tricky period in our lives.

Alcohol is insidious and it tends to creep up on us over the years. We find ourselves drinking more than the low-risk limits of one and a half bottles of wine a week.

We often get to the stage when we don’t even enjoy it any more. The buzz has gone, but we’re not quite sure how to change that habit of opening a bottle of wine in the evenings.

For some of us that’s when we realise we have become dependent.

I spent my 50s trying and (failing) to cut down and eventually managed to quit at the age of 63. To my surprise, I discovered it was much easier to quit completely than to “cut down.”

Was It My Age That Made Me So Tired… Or Was It My Wine?

When I hit 60, I was exhausted and concluded that it was normal to feel that way now that I was “old.” However, as I began to embrace my alcohol-free lifestyle, I felt a surge of energy along with a renewed sense of purpose.

After six alcohol-free months, I realised I was happier and healthier than I had been for years. I realised that it wasn’t my age that was making me anxious and tired, it was my wine!

I felt so passionate about the benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle that I wanted to help others to do what I had done so I founded Tribe Sober.

I began to work with (mainly older) women who wanted to change their drinking habits, so I did some research to understand just why we need to treat alcohol with caution as we age.

Alcohol and Ageing

As a result of my research, I concluded that reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption can significantly improve sleep quality, mental health, energy levels, and overall well-being. You can read more here:

Six Reasons to Quit Drinking at 60

Why Older People are Drinking more

Why Alcohol and Ageing Don’t Mix

Nine Key Facts about Alcohol and Women as we Age

Reduced Liver Function

As women age, liver volume shrinks, reducing the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol effectively.

This can lead to higher blood alcohol levels from the same amount of consumption compared to earlier in life.

Lower Enzyme Production

Women naturally produce less of the enzyme ALDH, which helps break down alcohol. During perimenopause, ALDH levels drop further, intensifying alcohol’s effects as more enters the bloodstream.

Impact on Sleep

Alcohol disrupts sleep by causing sedation instead of restorative sleep. It leads to fragmented sleep patterns, often waking women up around 2–3 a.m., making it hard to return to sleep. Poor sleep contributes to fatigue and triggers cravings for high-sugar and high-carb foods, further impacting health.

Stress and Anxiety Cycle

Alcohol increases cortisol, the stress hormone, which exacerbates stress and anxiety levels. This creates a vicious cycle: drinking to relax leads to higher stress and anxiety over time, particularly during the already challenging perimenopausal period.

Health Reasons

Osteoporosis: Alcohol interferes with calcium absorption, increasing the risk of brittle bones as estrogen levels drop.

Breast Cancer: Alcohol consumption is directly linked to a higher risk of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer.

Heart Disease: Alcohol raises blood pressure and can contribute to heart problems, especially for postmenopausal women.

Weakened Immune System

Alcohol impairs immune function, leaving the body more vulnerable to infections and illnesses.

Cognitive Decline

Chronic alcohol use increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, particularly in older adults.

Weight Gain

Alcohol is calorie-dense and can lead to weight gain, especially since metabolism slows with age.

Medication Interactions

Aging women are more likely to be on medications (e.g., for blood pressure, cholesterol, or sleep), and alcohol can interfere with their effectiveness or lead to dangerous side effects.

If we turn that list on its head we can easily come up with:

10 Benefits of an Alcohol-free Lifestyle for Older Women!

Improved Sleep Quality

Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns, while abstaining helps restore deep, restorative sleep, leading to better energy levels and mood.

Enhanced Mental Clarity

Without alcohol, brain fog diminishes, improving memory, focus, and cognitive function.

Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases

Alcohol-free living lowers the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and osteoporosis, all of which become more significant concerns with age.

Better Hormonal Balance

Alcohol increases stress hormones like cortisol, which can exacerbate anxiety and mood swings, especially during perimenopause and menopause. Removing alcohol helps stabilize hormones.

Healthier Weight Management

Alcohol is calorie-dense and often leads to sugar cravings. Cutting it out can support weight loss or maintenance more effectively.

Improved Skin Health

Alcohol dehydrates the skin and accelerates aging. Staying alcohol-free helps the skin stay more hydrated, firm, and youthful-looking.

Boosted Immune System

Alcohol weakens immune function. An alcohol-free lifestyle strengthens the body’s defences against infections and illnesses.

Better Relationships

Without alcohol, communication improves, and social interactions become more authentic and meaningful.

Enhanced Emotional Well-being

Sobriety reduces anxiety and depression over time, promoting a greater sense of inner peace and stability.

More Energy and Vitality

Alcohol depletes energy and leads to fatigue. Abstaining allows for sustained energy, making it easier to engage in hobbies, exercise, and social activities.

Ready to Kickstart your Alcohol-Free Lifestyle in 2025?

By looking at those facts and benefits, we can conclude that choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle, can unlock our full potential for health, happiness, and longevity.

If you’d like a little help to get started, then Tribe Sober is offering a FREE 5-day Bootcamp from 6^th to 10^th January.

It takes place in a Facebook Group (a private group so your Facebook friends will not be able to see you are a member!)

Every day, there will be a Task and a Training session. We’ll be looking at topics such as Changing your Mindset, Avoiding the Moderation Trap and Finding your Why.

People from all over the world attend our Bootcamps so all the talks are recorded so you can catch up in your own time.

If you’d like to purchase a VIP pass for the Bootcamp then click here.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you take regular breaks from alcohol to improve your health and test your dependence? Does the thought of doing an alcohol-free month make you anxious? Were you aware that the low-risk guideline is just a bottle and a half of wine a week? Are you ready to connect with other women on this lifechanging journey?