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Melanie Jappy's avatar

Age does not arrive alone, it’s true. And for me a slow distancing from the desire for alcohol has also occurred. This has happened simultaneously with the desire to avoid unsuitable men. I regard both as signs of growth. Only one thing deviates me from both paths - a sip of first growth claret. I’ll leave this thought here…

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Johnnie Peter-Hoblyn's avatar

Henry , this was like reading my own biography except having dealt with the acid ! The real coincidence is the fact that not 10 minutes previously I had finished an online consultation with the best sleep clinic in the UK to try and eradicate the snoring . Definitely don’t process alcohol as well as I used to but just makes me determined to make every drink count now . Avoiding mindless imbibing is probably the way forward for me . Abstinence is not that attractive a proposition as my carefully collected cellar (30 years’ worth) would need to be disposed of and the simple fact remains that the undertaker will eventually be required to pry a very very cold olive-laden vodka martini from my cold dead grasp !

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

I might have to get the number of that sleep clinic for the sake of my marriage.

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sally smallwood's avatar

Maybe you've tried this already but I have a friend who tapes his mouth at night (we're not talking full on Sopranos style gaffa tape) ....

a narrow surgical tape, lips just touching, so forcing him to breath through his nose....seems to help his snoring and marriage in tact....

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

That sounds extreme but maybe worth it for my wife's happiness.

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Johnnie Peter-Hoblyn's avatar

Sussex Sleep Services , recommended by a friend and was great success with him

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Tahnee Fournier's avatar

As both yoga teacher & sommelier it is soooo important in this industry ( professional drinker) to take care of self, without getting all wellness weird. Protein, movement, hydration, sleep are vital so we can enjoy the benefits of our trade. My motto “I only swallow when it’s good” ;) means drinking quality, not quantity. I carry beef jerky when I get the ‘faints’ as I’m hyperglycaemiic too. I also try not to drink wine past 8pm as our organs go through a detox at night which means the liver shouts oh hey!!! at 3am, the worst.

LOve the writings & podcast !

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

My wife keeps telling me to take up yoga.

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Tahnee Fournier's avatar

Do it, wine always tastes so much better after a class. Avoid hot yoga to start unless you have a magnum of sparkling wine with a lick of OJ for after.

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Richard S's avatar

Journeying into my 50s and habitually partial to having a drink of some sort most days, I increasingly find that the result of periodic abstinence is akin to awakening a long-dormant superpower. More energy, more patience, less irritability, better sleep... It greases the wheels of life in a fashion that the booze used to achieve.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

"Long-dormant superpower" - love it!

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Lynn Morgan's avatar

Also interested to read your upcoming review on the Low2Nos particularly if you’ve managed to find any gems in there on the “wine” side.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Sadly nothing on the 'wine' side. All filth.

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Lynn Morgan's avatar

😆

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Leroy Ortiz's avatar

Have you wife try earplugs at night. That worked for us till I got my CPAP.

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Louise Watson's avatar

Hi and thank you for this post. I am tempted to bewail the fact that my favourite booze writer has gone over to the tedious and predictable dark side of no and low. How depressing! And yet. Having always been a 'more-is-more' person, at age 50, like you, Henry and commenters here, I find my ability to process alcohol reduced and the downsides becoming all the more apparent - sleep, weight, visage etc. Vanity is a powerful motivator. At home, we like a proper cocktail and wine with dinner. Surprisingly it's the wine, even judicious amounts, which is the main villain; red wine specifically. Common for women I think. Who knew moderation was key? If I can manage to restrict myself to a single glass of wine, anyone can. I think I can even countenance cutting out wine entirely. The other trick I think is not drawing attention to it. Even my husband has not noticed me cutting down, and he's a detective.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Thank you Louise! No danger of me giving up, hopefully. And yes it is red wine that is the biggest problem whereas, oddly, a whisky & water has no side effects. Also I think red wine and especially port is the biggest contributor to the snoring.

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Louise Watson's avatar

Hello. Further: I have been reflecting on this. My slight aversion to ‘no and low’ drinks is that they advertise that one is avoiding, whereas I like to do it by stealth, entirely unremarked. I wonder if other commenters have techniques and subterfuge they employ, aside from simply having a glass but not drinking from it. One doesn’t always have the willpower!

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Serge Cartwright's avatar

Excellent post, Henri. I can confirm that's a true fact about Justin Cartwright. Booze started to give him terrible headaches and eczema on his arm and he ditched it completely before I was born. Thanks for recommending his books - great choices. I'm also a huge fan of his novel 'White Lightning' which touches on his time working in advertising when his lunching days were in full swing. Forgive me for plugging novels by my late father. Not something I'd do normally - maybe it's New Year nostalgia - but he was a wonderful writer and a brilliant father. I'm happy to say he enjoyed alcohol-free lunches to the end of his days.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Thanks Serge, I always feel lucky to have got to know him a little. And yes 'White Lightning' - one of the very best.

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Paul Howard Davies's avatar

Nutty granola with fruit and seed mix with a dollop of Greek yogurt and semi skimmed milk is a good start to the day.I also enjoy a small glass of Kefir as well.

I am 72 and although I cannot process alcohol as fast as I could , it just means slowing down the drinking and accompanying it with food helps a lot.An occasional glass of water whilst imbibing helps with dehydration.

Acid reflux can be largely prevented by chewing food fully and eating more slowly.

Snacking is not as helpful as three regular meals a day with time to eat,not on the run.

Drinking less,but drinking better is not a bad dictum.

Dancing and good conversation are great as they very effectively slow down drinking.

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Steven Graf's avatar

Drink natural wine and eat real food.

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Michael Logan's avatar

I'm a few decades ahead of you on the conveyor belt, and have experienced most of the things you describe. It takes a bit of adjustment this aging thing, but it has its good points. Discernment, experience and a realisation that many good people don't get to complain about life's changes.

I've tried Guinness 0.0 recently and was pleasantly surprised, though I'd rather a pint of Beamish - and a Taxi.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Yes, Guinness 0.00 is not bad, though not as good as everyone says. They're probably in the pay of Big Beer.

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Daphne V's avatar

I nodded manfully is *chefs kiss* 😂

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Merci!

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Kate Reuschel's avatar

Thanks for sharing. I think it sounds like a lot of us are in this similar situation. I am at the acid reflux all night from anything slightly acidic and increase my daily fiber intake. I try and hydrate an insane amount on days I have wine. It doesn’t always work- but hey, I try.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

But then I need the loo at 3am if I drink lots of water. Arrrgghhh!

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Paul Vincent Lawford's avatar

Hello I have a micro bar dedicated to non booze in the house here in Jerez. There is a whiskey and some gins and Vermut and beers Sin, Alc but it is the non booze Guinness that is the most miraculous, alas no Sherry

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Non booze Guinness is tasty. Also quite like Heineken zero if drunk very cold on a hot day.

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Anthony Bennett's avatar

Very interesting post. I don't think I have exactly reached the Justin Cartwright position (incidentally, a great novelist, I agree) of not liking wine any more. But so much of it now seems to me to be not very enjoyable. Is that the same thing? If it is, then I have got to that stage a lot later in life (I am 70).

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

Maybe you're getting pickier - or wine is getting worse.

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Miquel Hudin's avatar

Sharing a birth year, I share a number of your ills. I was at a friend's dinner party before going to the US last month, had a rather stupid amount of food and a bit of wine to only enjoy horrid acid reflux through the night. Normally I don't eat within six hours of going to sleep and drink little if anything at night which seems to suit me well at what is called "the second age" in Spain.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

I didn't realise you were quite as old as me.

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Miquel Hudin's avatar

Actually, two months closer than you too the grave I believe.

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