I spent a week drinking like a Boomer - it aged me by 10 years

It’s not even 11pm on a Saturday night and I’ve spent most of the evening slumped next to the toilet. Beside me is a half-empty glass of water and through the bathroom door a cautious hand is holding out some plain sliced bread. Even looking at it makes my head flop further to the floor. You may be thinking – ah, another 21-year-old who can’t handle her drink. And you’d be right. But, embarrassingly, the drink in question is just two (single-measure) vodka lemonades.

Like a typical Gen Zer, I rarely drink alcohol. People in my age group are the most likely in the UK to be teetotal, with 26 per cent not drinking at all, according to research by the charity DrinkAware. I normally drink twice a year (at a maximum). I’ve never felt like I’m missing out, but after hearing countless stories from older friends and relatives about the peculiar things they’ve done after having one too many, I’ve sometimes wondered what it’s like to feel drunk. With party season upon us, I decided to embark on a week’s experiment, adopting the drinking habits of my grandparents’ generation – the Baby Boomers.

A 2015 study found that one in five boomers exceeded the recommended weekly NHS alcohol limit of 14 units (around six pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of wine). But in the run-up to Christmas, presumably even more. As someone who has probably only consumed 14 units in my lifetime, I should have foreseen that fitting them into seven days was a bad idea.

The seven most common mistakes you can make when selling your home

We’re sweating more than ever – this is how to stay dry

I saved £560 a month without sacrificing fun – this is how

Six easy food swaps to up your fibre intake

I spent the day with a damp expert – his cheap ways to keep your home dry

Selling a house can be a minefield

The market is stagnant, first-time buyers are struggling to save enough for deposits and sales are falling through.To help, we asked experts for their tips on completing a sale. From what to do with decor and lighting to marketing it correctly.These are the most common mistakes they see.

If you give people the choice of a renovation project or something that’s finished, they’ll go for the latter.

If you give people the choice of a renovation project or something that’s finished, they’ll go for the latter.

Arsh Ellahi, who has over 20 years of experience in the property industry, says buyers want houses that are done. Warmer tones like stone and neutrals can also help a sale.

The mistakes to avoid

If all someone can see is clutter, they’re more likely to think the house is too small. Space is value.

Show homes come without the personal element and are usually plain but modern. This draws people in.

When the price is set too high, it’s more likely to stay on the market. Your home has to look like good value for money.

The mistakes to avoid

Ellahi says the best offers tend to come within the first four weeks of marketing.

Being present for viewings

If the owners are there, buyers can feel uncomfortable walking around and getting a sense of the place.

Photos are the first thing a potential buyer sees, and poor-quality images will stop stage two – the inquiry and viewing.

Windows should be opened to allow fresh air in, and, if it’s cold, the heating should be turned on to make the house feel inviting and homely.

It’s really important to accommodate viewings on weekends or evenings when they’re most popular.

Solicitors’ fees, agent fees, and capital gains tax are all big things to consider when it comes to finances and being ready to sell.

Navigating hot and sticky weather is often a sensory and social nightmare

With summer approaching, Dr Adil Sheraz of the British Association of Dermatologists, explains why we sweat and what we can do about it.

Why do we sweat?

Sweating is an important part of thermoregulation. When you sweat and it evaporates off the skin, it will take the latent heat with it.

Sweating is an important part of thermoregulation. When you sweat and it evaporates off the skin, it will take the latent heat with it.

We’re covered in three to four million sweat glands and the majority produce a sweat made up of just electrolytes and water. In other words, completely odourless.These eccrine glands function from birth to keep us cool.

When does sweat smell?

Glands in the armpit, groin and scalp operate differently.

They’re under the control of hormones and the glands contain lipids and potentially fatty esters.

The bacteria on our skin will feed off these fatty acids and lipids and cause the odour.

At 55, I thought my night sweats were due to menopause – but it was cancer

Are we sweating more now?

It is not just the weather impacts how we sweat…

The bigger you are (in height, weight or muscle mass), the more surface area you will need to sweat on in order to cool down.

This is why men tend to sweat more than women and why you sweat more when you gain weight.

Medical conditions like diabetesand thyroid problems will also cause increased sweating.

Certain dietary items, including caffeine, processed foods and spicy foods can also trigger the chemicals in our body which cause us to sweat more.

When does it matter?

If it’s impacting your daily life, you will likely have some form of hyperhidrosis and need to speak to a doctor to determine further.

Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating with no underlying cause.

Secondary hyperhidrosis means there’s a condition or illness causing the sweating.

There are two main ways to tell the difference.

Sweating with secondary causes tends to happen all over the body rather than just localised to your palms or armpits.

Primary hyperhidrosis tends to switch off when you’re sleeping as the neurons stop firing. This doesn’t happen with secondary hyperhidrosis.

How to manage sweat

Wear natural or wicking fabrics that prevent sweat patches, or clothes that are cooling for the skin.

One that contains aliminimium is advised as it’s well known for blocking and plugging our sweat ducts.

Where possible reduce dietary causes like caffeine and spicy foods.

Can I save money without giving up fun?

When it comes to financial planning, I’ve always lived month to month, but recently I’ve wanted to be slightly more serious. So I spoke to a range of financial experts for the easiest, idiot-proof ways to be savvier with money – without just hibernating.

Print out your bank statements“This is the hardest step but you’ve got to know what’s coming in and out, down to the pound,” says financial coach Ian Dempsey. You’re more likely to remember what’s on there, and pay attention to it on paper.

Draw an image of what you’re saving for“Anything that requires discipline is much easier to achieve when you [can picture] the end goal,” says Ruth Power, from the Financial Management Bureau.

Go on a money date

If you’re in a relationship, for 30 minutes once a month, take a notebook to the pub/cafe and talk about money with your partner.

They are designed to be compulsive. Removing them gives you an extra layer of resistance.

Marketing emails are designed to reach you when you’re likely to spend money.

How it went when Kasia followed the expert advice

I delete Vinted and only re-download it when I actively want to replace something for my son that he’s grown out of.

I’m no longer buring my head in the sand. Sections of my bank statement flash into my mind when I go to use the Uber app.

Money dates have been uncomfortable. We did have a small argument about buying own-brand beans versus Heinz for example, but scribbling down numbers we want to save has also been exciting.

I have found it easier to be mindful about spending and broke some unhelpful habits, like associating walks with always getting a coffee.

How the UK currently saves

The average person in the UK has £16,067 in savings in 2025.

However, 2 in 5 Britons have £1,000 or less in savings. A quarter have £200 or less.

1 in 6 UK adults (16 per cent) have no savings at all, equating to around 8.4 million people.

Men are estimated to have 82 per cent more in savings than women.

Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) of adults state saving money is a habit.

The truth is, I’m never going to be someone with five side hustles and the financial savvy to become a bitcoin billionaire. But I’m no longer thinking, “where did my salary go?”. The small changes have, over time, made a difference to my bank account, but also my mind and self confidence. KASIA DELGADO

The truth is, I’m never going to be someone with five side hustles and the financial savvy to become a bitcoin billionaire. But I’m no longer thinking, “where did my salary go?”. The small changes have, over time, made a difference to my bank account, but also my mind and self confidence.

Six easy swaps to increase your fibre intake

We asked the experts why it’s so important to include enough fibre in our diets, and how to do it without totally overhauling our diets…

Why fibre is important

Fibre isn’t a fad nutrient. It’s been consistently linked to better health outcomes for decades. Unlike protein, which the majority of people already get enough of, fibre is something most of us (96 per cent) are significantly lacking.  NICHOLA LUDLAM-RAINE, SPECICIALIST REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND AUTHOR

Fibre isn’t a fad nutrient. It’s been consistently linked to better health outcomes for decades. Unlike protein, which the majority of people already get enough of, fibre is something most of us (96 per cent) are significantly lacking.

The small diet tweaks to make

Beans, lentils and chickpeas are fibre powerhouses, with around 6-8g per half-tin. If you find beans tricky to digest, start with microdosing them for a week and gradually build it up to half a can at a time.

One of the simplest changes you can make is to switch to wholegrain versions of everyday carbs. Swapping two slices of white bread for wholemeal adds around 3g of fibre.

How to add fibre to your diet

The skin of some foods can contain up to 50 per cent of the total fibre. Just make sure it’s safe to eat.

Level up the snacks

Berries, raw vegetables with hummus, or a small handful of nuts are all easy fibre wins.

Ludlam-Raine adds a spoon of mixed seeds to porridge, cereal, yoghurts, soups and salads.

EASY WAYS TO ADD FIBRE TO YOUR DIET

Add in, don’t take away

A few extra handfuls of fibre-rich ingredients might be all that’s needed to take your meals from average to fibre-full. Small changes are key because they’re more sustainable and better tolerated by the gut. Increasing fibre too quickly can cause bloating or discomfort.

One in four people in the UK is living with mould and/or damp in their home…

David Prince, a leading damp surveyor who travels across the country treating mould, spends the day with The i Paper writer Eleanor Peake.

Britain’s damp problem is one of the worst in Europe.

Private renters are disproportionately affected, with 45 per cent currently battling symptoms of damp.

From 2015 to 2024, British winters were 16 per cent wetter than in previous years.

By 2070, UK winters are projected to be up to 30 per cent wetter.

The house I visited with David Prince – a private rental

Renters are desperate for a resolution to their ongoing damp issue.

David notes that although the bathroom has an extractor fan, the room wasn’t being ventilated efficiently.

The hot air from the bathroom was floating towards the coldest part of the building (the bedroom) and turning into water as it hit the cold bedroom walls.

This was an internal ventilation issue, other houses have an external issue. When the guttering is overgrown the water has to go somewhere else, sometimes seeping back into the brick.

The houses most at risk

Victorian terraces, or those built in the 1910s, are more likely to have rising damp – where the water seeps through the foundation of the house.

Modern houses are often built with concrete ring beams, one of the coldest materials to build with. The damp turns to condensation just by hitting the walls.

Only a small number of damp specialists – around 250 – are registered with the Property Care Association (PCA) in the whole of the UK. This means that a majority of people in the UK are receiving quotes and recommendations about damp from building surveyors who aren’t qualified to give a diagnosis, says Prince.

The golden rules for managing damp

The most common issues can be solved by simple tweaks.

Start with the outside. When it’s raining, have a walk around your building to see if the gutters are pouring water down the wall, or water is being trapped in some way.

Make sure you have good ventilation in key wet rooms: kitchen, bathroom, utility, and toilets.

Open all your windows every day for a short period of time to force natural ventilation – even on cold days.

Never place furniture, or even pictures, on an external wall if it suffers from mould. It helps retain moisture.

It started on a Friday when I went to the pub with a friend. Like a true binge-drinking Boomer, the plan was to cram every unit I could into the weekend – seven units on Friday and Saturday (so a few pints or a few glasses of wine each night) – so I could avoid any sort of hangover while working during the week. I insisted that I’d have a meal with my drinks. Eating might be cheating, but it felt like sensible preparation for an unusual night out.

We arrived at 6.15pm to settle in – and to eat without looking extremely out of place. I’ve only been to the pub once before during peak hours, when lockdown restrictions eased, and I hated every minute of it, so I arrived with plenty of time to mentally prepare. I’m completely fine with being a boring 21-year-old but for this week I was determined to enjoy it.

The first battle was ordering the drink itself. The range of drinks I know that I like is very limited. I could name on one hand the spirits and cocktails I’ve tried and only one or two I can stomach without wincing. Only a few months ago I spent the week in Ibiza and didn’t exceed more than one glass a day.

After reading the beer and wine menu, my method for choosing was picking which cocktail name sounded most enticing, and which had a fruit juice in it that I liked. I opted for a passionfruit martini (1.5 units). The first drink brought me the much-reported liquid confidence. Not quite the conventional stand-on-the-tables-and-dance-type confidence but it made me believe I could in fact manage this boomer week. Easily.

And I was right – to begin with. After my second martini (lets round that up to three units), I met a few new friends, pushed our tables together and chatted, something sober me would never have done. Saying that, I can’t recall any of their names, or what the conversation entailed, or even if I was much part of it.

I also kept my experiment to myself when I realised their table was full of empty beer cans, about eight half-full glasses and I was sitting clinging on to my second drink developing a pounding headache and a racing heart rate. By 10pm, I was tucked into bed and the room slowly stopped spinning so I took the night as a win.

The next morning, after heading to the gym and sauna to detox myself of that vanilla vodka and prosecco combination, I cracked on with breakfast. A portion of scrambled eggs and, I thought, after calling it an early night on Friday, I should have a little mid-morning drink to keep the weekend rolling in the right direction. My nan’s go-to drink has always been a white wine so I poured myself a half glass to sip. I despise wine but it seemed a Boomer-ish thing to do.

I didn’t have anything else on for the rest of the day until I went to the house of my friend’s parents in the evening. I was offered a drink and took it, but as I sipped it, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was immediately forced to sit next to the toilet with my eyes drooping. It had hit me.

My goal to polish off another five units that night turned to just two vodka lemonades, with three trips to the bathroom and having to go to sleep before midnight. I was gutted, not only by how terrible I felt, but how pathetic my effort had been. Even more disappointingly, when I called my dad (a Millennial) the next day, he recalled his own night, polishing off 10 beers and still dancing around his kitchen at 3am. Sigh.

I wasn’t sure whether to be completely jealous that he’d managed my weekly goal in a few hours without a second thought or the fact he’s clearly a more fun night out than me. Still, I’d be a much cheaper date, even if it is embarrassing that I can only max out at seven units in a week before having to retire for the rest of the year.

The next day I felt like my body had aged 10 years in two days. My limbs were moving 10 steps behind what I was telling them to and my productivity was at an all-time low. I could not believe that people willingly, and frequently, choose to do this.

So should I worry, or feel smug? GP and medical director at Selph, Claire Merrifield, says: “Having a low tolerance is actually a good thing”. “People who feel drunk after a small amount of alcohol are far less likely to develop problem drinking behaviours.”

How much alcohol people can handle can be down to genetics. Merrifield says: “Some people can drink several drinks and not have much response, whereas for others, a single alcoholic drink is enough to make them feel dizzy, drunk or sleepy.” The more you drink, the more you can build your tolerance though: “Your body becomes better at clearing alcohol from your bloodstream so you need to drink more alcohol to feel drunk. People who drink very little [like me] have a low tolerance to the effects which means they’re much more likely to feel drunk and unwell with a small amount.”

Due to the negative health impacts of alcohol, Merrifield recommends no more than two alcoholic drinks per week.