Growing Older with Duncan

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Growing Older with Duncan

Why the post-match beer hits differently these days

As the song goes, “I want to have a beer with Duncan, ‘cause Duncan’s me mate.”

I’ve always loved that line. There’s something simple and perfect about it. After a match, beer with your mates is the punctuation mark at the end of a good tennis story. Laughs, debriefs, maybe a little trash talk — and a cold one to wrap it all up.

But lately… it hasn’t hit the same.

The banter is still good. The friendships still solid. But the beer? Not so much. I’ve caught myself wondering why that is — and now, I’ve got some answers.

Here’s What the Biology Says

A recent article unpacked what age does to our relationship with alcohol. The science is sobering — but enlightening.

1. More Intoxication, Less Enjoyment

As we age, we lose muscle (which stores water) and gain fat (which doesn’t). Since alcohol is water-soluble, it hits harder — but feels less rewarding. A 2022 study showed that older drinkers feel just as tipsy as younger ones at the same BAC… but enjoy it less.

2. Hangovers Get Meaner

Aging slows liver function and blood flow, letting toxic by-products like acetaldehyde linger longer. The result? Stronger headaches, nausea, palpitations — and longer recoveries.

3. Sleep Takes a Hit

Older adults already wrestle with sleep due to circadian shifts and other factors. Alcohol makes it worse — relaxing the throat, disrupting oxygen flow, and fragmenting deep sleep. Even non-drinking nights can be affected due to ongoing disruption of GABA and melatonin signaling.

4. Amplified Aging Effects

Regular alcohol use compounds inflammation, memory lapses, and medication interactions — all of which become more relevant with age.

How to Keep Sharing Beers with Duncan

You don’t have to ditch the ritual. You just have to adjust it:

  • Sip, don’t slam. Let your body pace itself.

  • Hydrate. Alternate with water or sports drinks.

  • Snack. Food slows down alcohol absorption.

  • Skip the nightcap. Protect your already-fragile sleep.

  • Opt for quality. One good beer can beat three average ones.

It Was Never Just About the Beer

The real ritual isn’t the drink — it’s the mate. The bond. The decompression after competition. The shared grin over a tough tie-break or a fluffed overhead. Beer just happened to be the sidekick.

So maybe the beers get lighter. Or fewer. Or maybe it’s just water next round.

But Duncan’s still me mate.

And that’s the part that matters most.