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A new drinking trend has been popping up across college campuses nationwide called BORG, an acronym for “blackout rage gallon.” A BORG consists of students taking a gallon jug of water and emptying it to fit in their preferred amount of alcohol, flavor enhancers and Liquid IV for hydration.
The trend started growing on TikTok earlier this year and has since amassed over 145 million views on the platform. Much like any other alcohol consumption trend, it is crucial to be aware of the risks before downing a BORG.
According to CBS News, there has been an uptick in concern for binge drinking with the rise of BORGs. Nicole Barr, direct services coordinator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Abrons Student Health Center, mentioned the traditional BORG recipe calls for a fifth of alcohol, typically vodka or other clear liquors. This much alcohol consumption in one sitting falls into a category labeled as high-intensity drinking by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. According to the NIAAA, this level of extreme binge drinking occurs when alcohol intake is twice or more than the gender-specific threshold for binge drinking.
This threshold is currently eight or more standard drinks for women and ten or more for men on one occasion. The NIAAA defines a “standard drink” as roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol. For distilled spirits like vodka, rum, tequila and gin, a standard drink is only 1.5 ounces. A fifth of vodka in a BORG is nearly double the amount of alcohol needed to classify as high-intensity drinking. The NIAAA warns that the consequences of high-intensity drinking can include alcohol-related injuries, blacking out, vomiting and alcohol poisoning. It can even be fatal in extreme cases.
While these numbers and risks are alarming, not all BORGs are made the same and do not contain the same amount of alcohol. Unlike going to the bar where it is difficult to track consumption, with a BORG, a person can decide exactly how much to drink before starting. Electrolytes can also be mixed into the concoction, which will help replace hydration lost from alcohol consumption.
BORGs seem dangerous at first glance, but they can be beneficial for harm reduction within the student community. One primary benefit is that all BORGs are much safer than communal drinks due to the caps. This fact alone significantly reduces the amount of drink spiking and vulnerability from date-rape drugs.
BORGs also encourage creativity among students. Most BORGs have hilarious names written on the side. Some as mentioned on the TikTok For You Page include “Justin BeiBORG,” “Brown v. the BORG of Education” and “cheese BORGer.” Not only does this provide students with a creative outlet, but it also can help differentiate between drinks so you don’t consume the wrong one.
Whether you are team BORG or not, there is no doubt that they will continue to impact the lives of college students as the trend continues to increase in popularity. If you choose to participate in this trend as the semester ends, consider the risks first. Most importantly, drink responsibly and always adhere to legal guidelines.
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