BORG Drinking: Exploring the College Trend and Its Risks

You may have heard of BORGs (black-out rage gallons), what with TikTok being taken over by headlines of college students making their very own drink mixtures. While getting your own drink to a party or an event may look like the safe thing to do, it is not as safe as it may seem at the outset.

In this blog, we shall seek to understand what is a BORG drink and the risks associated with it so that you can make informed decisions regarding whether going with this trend is the right choice for you or not.

What Does BORG Stand For?

BORG stands for “Blackout Rage Gallon.” A BORG is a gallon-sized container that contains a fifth of vodka or any other alcoholic drink, half a gallon of water, flavoring, and electrolytes. People usually get their own BORGs to avoid others spiking their drink or catching any other infections, which is something that became a bit of a trend in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, BORG drinking also gets its name from the blackout effects it leads to; it is drinking to the extent that one struggles with blackouts (loss of consciousness) and gaps in memory.

How Strong Is A BORG Drink?

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

Now, the BORG containers contain 1/5th alcohol. This means 25 ounces of vodka, which 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 anybody to consume on their own.

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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?

The 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 like wildfire in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The idea behind BORG is that it is personalized and safe. 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. In the post-COVID world, this kind of safety measure made sense.

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

But Really, Is BORG Safer Than A Traditional Drink?

BORGs have become quite the trend on social media as a supposedly safer way to drink alcohol, as it has been touted as the perfect solution to hangovers, given the higher levels of water. But this is not even scratching the surface as to how dangerous BORG can be.

A single BORG can contain up to 16 (or even more) standard drinks, far exceeding the safe limits and putting users at risk for alcohol poisoning, even if it is consumed slowly. Oftentimes, the ingredients are mixed without measuring, so it is not always possible to know how much alcohol content there is in one container. Some flavor enhancers used in BORGs, like caffeine and cannabis, create a far more risky mix than your average drink, contributing to severe consequences like heightened risk of cancer and other chronic conditions.

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 your drink, especially with substances like date rape drugs.
• Prevents the spread of infections.
• As the BORG container comprises water, it helps avoid dehydration.

What Are The Risks Of A BORG?

BORG drinking risks far outweigh its benefits. Much like traditional alcohol, BORG leads to:

• Severe hangovers, despite the claim that 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 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 Poison Control (https://www.poison.org/) or emergency services (like 9-1-1 in the U.S.) immediately.

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How Can You Safely Enjoy Your Drink?

BORG has been touted as safe and hydrating. However, it does come with risks. So, here are some steps you can take to safely enjoy your drinks:

• Measure and pour out your own drinks so that you know how much is in them and what you are drinking.
• Stick to lighter drinks and pace your drinks so that it does not lead to binge drinking.
• Set a drink limit and ensure you do not exceed it.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic beverages.
• Keep water with you always so that you stay hydrated. You can even add ice to your drinks for better hydration.
• Ensure you only drink with persons you can trust and who can keep a check on you, as you can keep a check on them.

Takeaways

• BORG Drinking Trend - Emerged in 2018 and spread among college students via social media platforms like TikTok.
• BORG Stands For - BlackOut Rage Gallon, highlighting the size of the container and the risk of blackouts.
• 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 the spread of infections.
  • 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, heart attack, brain damage, and so on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is in a BORG?

Typically, BORG consists of half a gallon of water, a fifth of vodka, and other flavorings like drink mixes, electrolytes, and so on.

What are the ingredients used as flavor enhancers?

The ingredients used as flavor enhancers are artificial sweeteners, vitamin B, caffeine, and even cannabis.

What is a safe amount of caffeine to use in a BORG?

Up to 400mg of caffeine is safe for use. However, mixing caffeine in BORG can add to the layers of risk already associated with the drink.

Does BORG prevent hangovers?

BORG does not prevent hangovers, despite the claims of being hangover-proof. In reality, it can lead to very severe hangovers.

What if BORG makes you sick?

BORG has high alcohol content, which means you are at an increased risk of alcohol poisoning and other related issues. If you experience any of the symptoms, seek help from Poison Control or contact emergency providers immediately.