Does ‘Zebra Striping’ Prevent Hangovers?

I don’t know about you, but as I’ve gotten older my tolerance for alcohol has gone right out of the window. Hangovers nowadays are nightmarish – to the point where I’ve practically stopped drinking altogether.

According to Lauren Booker, author of Try Dry: The Official Guide to a Month Off Booze, hangovers do get worse as we age because everything in our bodies tends to slow down, including our livers, which find it harder to process alcohol into harmless waste products.

“This means there are more toxins in our bodies for longer as they’re broken down more slowly into carbon dioxide and water,” she previously told HuffPost UK.

Before it turns to that, alcohol is broken down by the liver into a number of different substances, including the compound acetaldehyde. And guess what? As we age, our ability to metabolise acetaldehyde is also reduced.

To add insult to injury, many of us are just not fit as we once were. “More body fat and less muscle make the alcohol we consume more concentrated in the body,” said Booker, “leading to dehydration and worsening the dreaded hangover.”

In a bid to try and steer clear of horrific hangovers, people are unsurprisingly turning to ‘zebra striping’ when out on the town. In fact, you’ve probably done it yourself.

It’s a tactic where you opt for an alcoholic beverage and follow up with a non-alcoholic drink before flitting back to booze for your next drink.

The idea is that you’re drinking less overall and staying hydrated.

In theory, yes. But a pharmacist has warned the drinking trend could actually make hangovers worse if you’re not properly considering the drinks you alternate with.

Karen Hutchinson, prescribing pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist4U, said: “Zebra striping is a smart way to reduce your alcohol intake and stay more hydrated, but not all drink choices are equal.

“Many people focus on alternating drinks but overlook what’s actually in the glass.”

She noted that dark spirits such as whisky, rum and brandy contain higher levels of compounds called congeners, “which are linked to more severe hangover symptoms”.

And sugary soft drinks can contribute to dehydration and blood sugar spikes, potentially making symptoms like fatigue, nausea and headaches feel worse the next day.

The pharmacist said some of the best non-alcoholic choices to go for are water and electrolyte drinks, including some sports beverages, coconut water or infused water, or 100% fruit juices (with a pinch of salt added). These may contain useful minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and more.

As for alcoholic options, clear spirits like gin and vodka are “generally associated with fewer hangover-related compounds”.

She advises against ordering doubles or stronger alcoholic drinks, as “alternating only works if your alcohol intake actually drops”.

“If you’re replacing the single vodka with a double vodka every round, you’re unlikely to feel better the next day,” said Hutchinson.

Start hydrating before your first drink, so you’re not starting the night off dehydrated. “Having a pint of water before you start drinking and regularly topping up throughout the night is often more effective than trying to play catch-up at the end,” she added.

And don’t forget to eat beforehand, too.

“One of the biggest mistakes people make is relying on a takeaway at the end of the night. A balanced meal before drinking helps slow alcohol absorption and gives your body more time to process alcohol gradually,” said Hutchinson.

“While a late-night burger might feel helpful, it’s unlikely to undo the effects of drinking on an empty stomach.”

Once the night is over, don’t forget to have one last water before you hit the hay. “The easiest hangover-reduction habit is one of the [most] overlooked,” she said.

“Finishing the night with a large glass of water or electrolyte drink can help replace some of the fluids lost through alcohol and may reduce the severity of dehydration-related symptoms the next morning.”

Here’s to fewer head-banging hangovers!