In mid 40s it is getting harder and harder to enjoy alcohol

[Elizo]

I've always enjoyed a drink, not too much, but a nice glass of wine or beer or two, I also like pubs. It is getting to the point where I can virtually feel the hangover coming as I drink the drink. More than 1 drink is too many. Annoying that this pleasure is being taken! Has anyone else experienced this? I read that at mid 40s the body becomes much less able to absorb alcohol...

YANBU - same for me
YABU - I can still drink fine

Yes I hear of so many women use alcohol to help with the psychological changes of peri and also life stresses, but that it makes everything physically much harder to deal with and makes peri symptoms worse.

Yes my hangxiety is so much worse these days, I feel very alone and unloved for no reason.

I can totally relate to this! I'm 42 and have experienced this for a few years now. I miss being able to get a little bit pissed without a thumping headache 😫
I do still drink but more than 2 and I really pay for it. It sucks.

YANBU I’m early 50s and have given up altogether. It was no longer enjoyable due to hangover/sleep disturbance and I find people pressure me less if I simply say I don’t drink rather than I sometimes drink. I thought it was to do with my menopause. I don’t even miss alcohol.

I’m 59. No such issues here.

I'm actually so glad you've posted this. None of my friends of a similar age seem to be affected in the same way. So glad it's not just me and it's a biological thing!

Yes same, and I absolutely do miss it

I'm 44. Red wine is just no longer worth it, even a single glass gives me a raging headache. White isn't as bad, I can have a few glasses. Gin is generally ok but if I drink anything at all in the day or two before my period starts, I wake up the next morning wishing I'd just died in my sleep.

I will very occasionally have 3% beer but other than that I don't drink. I used to love dry white wine but about 3 yrs ago I felt the headache starting after half a glass. Wasn't worth it. I still like pubs but never get to go.

48 and struggling to enjoy booze! Sometimes I fancy a glass of wine or a small bottle of beer. I end up with a nasty headache the following morning. Or feeling sick. It's not like o even drink a lot. I've reined it right in now. Hardly drink at all now.

Growing up in an industrial culture where beer was accepted along with smoking I spent much time in Pubs. I liked that milieu, I am now nostalgic for it.
It was not until I was mid 60s that hangovers became so fierce.
But don't worry we shall soon be gone.

52 and I enjoy it at the time but around 45 I started to realise I would feel exhausted and look older the day after a few glasses of wine. It’s also empty calories - half a bottle of wine is about 350 calories.

This happened to me in my mid 30s. Hate drinking now. I can be literally one small glass of wine in and feel I need to lie down. Haven’t properly had any alcohol since 2019. Occasionally I mix some red wine and Diet Coke if I’m feeling adventurous 😆. Like once a year on Xmas day.

I hear this a lot, menopausal women. I'm the opposite, enjoying it more and more, no hangovers, no problems, all good.

I used to drink quite a lot, socially. Pint of Guinness after lockdown made me sick. I checked out the sugar in alcohol. Stout is about the highest- over 30 grams of sugar in a pint! That’s most of the daily recommended amount. So daily glass of red wine and a very occasional half lager now does me.
Spirits and red wine have the lowest sugar btw.

Depends what and how I drink. Prosecco is a recipe for disaster. I've not had a wine hangover in years because I know how awful it can make me. Best route for me is cider- cocktail- gin. Few Proseccos in there can be OK. Shots are never a good idea.

My hangovers are unpredictable though. Had a big day/ night out the other week: fine. Girls' boozy holiday: 1 bad day. Few hours our in a pub: shocking. I'm scared of the menopausal booze reaction starting though.

I had two glasses of sangria and a glass of wine the other week and woke up with palpitations

It's just not worth it

I’m late 30’s and two glasses of Prosecco or two beers is my limit now. And I usually get a cracking hangover if I drink without food. It’s definitely not worth it anymore!

I'm 50, really enjoy a few drinks, no issues. Only really drink on a weekend , don't go mental, feel fine.

Red wine with diet coke?! What does that taste like? Do you have it with ice or room temp? So many questions... 😆

Never had hangovers, even in my wild student days, and am lucky enough that I still don't!
Noone believed me (thought I was just trying to be smart) till we got a breathalyser- next day they were all off the scale while I was blowing zero, havibg drank the same!
I reckon I have a very efficient liver. But it may well get fed up with the abuse and leave me one day....

Very envious.

As you get older I swear you lose the ability (or enzymes) to metabolise alcohol. Or maybe a fatty liver due to age/weight means your ability to break it down goes?
I get a headache half way down a glass of alcohol so I rarely drink now as I can't bear the lengthy hangovers on so little actual alcohol!

I get this with wine and beer, but a martini is fine!

Red wine and coke! I've not had (or thought about) a Kalimotxo in about 15 years. Having some very happy, silly and hazy memories of holidays in Spain right now!