For many people, “Dry January” seems like a distant memory. Oh, their intentions were good. After a long holiday season with too many parties and happy hours and just generally over-imbibing, cutting out alcohol for a month sounded like a pretty good New Year resolution. But now old habits have returned and some people are finding that alcohol has once again become a daily routine. Interestingly enough, there are many trends (often spread through social media) indicating that people are trying to moderate their drinking habits year-round, not just during a specific dry period.

One such trend is “Zebra Striping.”  Haven’t heard of it? You’re clearly not spending enough time on Facebook (just kidding). This is actually a pretty creative way to describe a strategy to reduce your consumption of alcohol at a social event. The idea is to alternate between drinking an alcoholic beverage (the black stripe) and a non-alcoholic one (the white stripe).

The practice is getting some attention on news sites such as HuffPost.com. Writing for that website, Caroline Bologna says that you might “Think of this practice as a more mindful approach to drinking, fostering a sense of balance and relaxation.”

There are a few ways that Zebra Striping might be beneficial. First and most obviously, it helps reduce the number of drinks you might have in an evening. But probably equally important, it helps you stay hydrated — especially if your white stripe is water. Dehydration is part of the cause of a hangover, so this simple habit can actually help you feel better in the morning. Another side effect is that it slows down the rate of increase in your blood alcohol level. Often, a higher blood alcohol level can impair judgment to the point that you overindulge and (for the moment) don’t care.

With that said about benefits, one important question you have to ask yourself is why you’re thinking about Zebra Striping in the first place. If you’re not in control of your relationship with alcohol, then “tricks” to help reduce your drinking are not the solution. As Bologna says, “Once you reach a certain point in your journey with alcohol, introducing any alcoholic beverage will produce an effect that half-measures like zebra striping won’t properly counter.”

This is a concern that should be taken seriously, especially as the years go by. The fact is that alcohol affects the body in different ways as you age. People in their 20s have very resilient brains and livers. Hangovers (unless someone greatly overdoes it) are generally not a problem and liver disease is rare. People in their 30s are more likely to find that weight gain is becoming a problem. Obesity increases the risk of some forms of liver disease and alcohol does the same. As people move through their 40s more health issues arise. High cholesterol. High blood pressure. Pre-diabetes. Alcohol makes all of these conditions more troublesome.

Then come the 50s and 60s, along with an increased risk of cancer. Once again, alcohol further increases the risk. Another factor also plays a greater role as people age. The human body produces a hormone called alcohol dehydrogenase, which functions to process alcohol in the body. Research suggests that the production of alcohol dehydrogenase declines as we get older, reducing the ability to metabolize alcoholic beverages.

As with so many things, moderation and balance are key to maintaining health. Writing for HuffPost.com, Leigh Weingus explores the subject in an article titled “So THAT’S Why Drinking Alcohol Makes You Feel Worse As You Get Older.” She sums up her findings by saying, “If you want to stay as healthy as possible and feel your best as you age, do you have to give up alcohol completely? No…” but, she adds, “If you’re older and in generally good health, you shouldn’t worry too much about the occasional alcoholic beverage.” The caveat is that word occasional. That certainly rules out a daily glass of wine. And it can also help to pick up some other healthy habits — such as Zebra Striping at social events. Combined, less frequent drinking and more hydrating to reduce the amount you drink can help you enhance your health at any age.