BORG Drinking: Exploring the College Trend and Its Risks

The BORG drinking trend is one of the latest TikTok trends taking over the younger generation, albeit a dangerous one. “BORG to be wild,” “BORGanic chemistry” are some of the fun names that tell a person how to make their own BORG at home.

In this blog, we shall seek to understand what does BORG stand for and the risks that come with it.

What Is A BORG Drinking?

A BORG is actually a gallon-sized container. It contains a fifth of vodka or any other alcoholic drink, half of water, water flavoring, and electrolytes. People usually carry their own BORGs to avoid others spiking their drink or catching any other germs, which is something that people are more concerned about in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the BORG drinking trend involves drinking from this container the whole night. Now, while people who do engage in BORG drinking claim benefits, experts say that this leads to many health complications.

What Does BORG Stand For?

BORG stands for “Blackout Rage Gallon.” The name is inspired by the gallon-sized container and the effects of this kind of drinking leading to blackout drinking, which is drinking to an extent where one experiences blackouts or memory losses.

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How Strong Is Borg Drink?

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines a standard drink as having 14 grams of pure alcohol. Now, this is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of liquor.

Now, the general BORG containers contain 1/5th alcohol – which means, 25 ounces of vodka. This is equal to nearly 16 shots of 1.5 ounces of liquor.

By standard measures, BORG is a very strong drink, and in fact, it is quite dangerous for a person to consume it on their own.

Why Has BORG Drinking Become Popular?

BORG drinking trend is one of the recent TikTok trends. While it emerged in 2018, this trend of drinking from a BORG became quite popular on social media and spread among college-going students. The idea behind BORG is that it is personalized and safe, and only up to a certain extent, this is true. For instance, drinking from a BORG prevents others from spiking the drink and also prevents coming in contact with any germs that happen with drink sharing. After COVID-19, this is kind of the safety measure that people are following.

Moreover, some popular tags like “Breaking BORG,” “Captain BORGan,” “Maybe she is BORG with it,” and “William ShakesBORG” also helped make BORG drinking viral.

What Are The Benefits Of A BORG?

BORG drinking does have many risks associated with it, but it does have a few benefits:

• Carrying one’s own BORG container prevents others from spiking the drink, especially with substances like date rape drugs.
• Prevents the spread of germs.
• As the BORG container comprises water, it helps avoid dehydration.

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What Are The Risks Of A BORG?

BORG drinking risks far outweigh its benefits. BORG drinking has both short-term and long-term risks.

BORG is a very strong drink. While it contains more water than alcohol, people generally say that the water balances out the alcohol. However, this is only a myth. BORG contains nearly 16 shots of 1.5 ounces of liquor, which is a dangerous amount of alcohol for one to consume.

Much like the general alcohol, BORG leads to:

• Severe hangovers, even if it is generally said that the water content in BORG containers prevents hangovers
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Liver problems
• Pancreatitis
• Increased risk of cancers like neck, esophagus, and liver cancers.
• Brain damage
• Increased risk of heart attacks
• Risky sexual behaviors, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Since BORG contains more alcohol than it is safe to consume, it can also lead to alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening if not attended to. Signs of alcohol poisoning are as follows:

• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Breathing difficulties
• Low body temperature
• Pale skin, even bluish and grayish skin
• Dizziness
• Fainting

If anyone is experiencing these signs after BORG drinking, it is vital to call healthcare providers or emergency services (like 9-1-1 in the U.S.) immediately.

What Alcohol Is Best For BORG?

Generally, BORG contains a fifth of vodka, a half-gallon of water, flavored drinks like Kool-Aid or MiO, and an electrolyte mix like Pedialyte. So, vodka is the general drink preferred, and this recipe is generally considered to be a harm reduction strategy as well as a hangover remedy. However, this is a myth. BORG drinking is dangerous and can lead to a number of health complications. It can also lead to alcohol poisoning, which is a life-threatening condition.

In fact, a real-life incident involving the University of Massachusetts Amherst students saw a mass hospitalization of 46 students, which was considered to be a consequence of BORG drinking. These students were hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, and while all of them were eventually discharged, it showcased how dangerous BORG drinking can really be.

Ingredients Of BORG

BORG contains the following ingredients:

• Half-gallon of water
• 1/5th vodka or other alcoholic drinks
• Flavored drinks like Kool-Aid or MiO
• An electrolyte mix like Pedialyte

However, BORG can also contain Vitamin B, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, food coloring, and even cannabis.

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Takeaways

• BORG Drinking Trend – Emerged in 2018 and spread among college students via social media platforms like TikTok.
• BORG Stands For – Black Out Rage Gallon, highlighting the size of the container and the risk of a blackout (memory loss).
• BORG Ingredients – Half-gallon water, 1/5th vodka or other alcoholic drink, flavoring, and electrolytes.
• Strength of a BORG Drink – Contains 1/5th vodka, which is 16 shots of the standard 1.5 ounces of liquor, making it extremely dangerous.
• Perceived Benefits of a BORG Drink –
   - Reduces the risk of spiking and spread of germs.
   - Reduces the risk of dehydration.
• Risks of BORG Drink –
  - Risky behaviors, like unsafe sex.
  - Hangovers, headaches, body aches, fatigue, and so on.
  - Long-term health concerns like liver damage, increased risks of cancers and heart attack, brain damage, and so on.