Blackout Rage Gallon | College Students & The “Borg” Drinking Trend

College students are constantly searching for ways to get drunk without risking a hangover. Recently, one of these methods has exploded on TikTok and other social media platforms. Known as the borg, it’s quickly taking over college campuses across the nation.

What’s A Borg?

The term “borg” stands for blackout rage gallon. As the name suggests, it’s a drink that contains a lot of alcohol. 

To make a borg, students fill an empty gallon jug with a half-gallon of water and a half-gallon of liquor, typically vodka. 

They then add a flavor enhancer, such as MiO or Crystal Light. Some students also mix in other substances, including Kool-Aid, an electrolyte drink called Liquid IV, and an energy drink called Celsius. 

In most cases, each student brings their own borg to a party and hangs on to it throughout the night. Many students draw humorous names on the jugs, such as “BORGan donor” or “All A-Borg.” 

Not A Communal Drink

Online tutorials for making borgs first appeared around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Over time, the drink grew more popular as Gen Z students looked for ways to enjoy parties without risking infection via communal punch (also called “jungle juice”). Today, you can find numerous borgs at tailgates, frat parties, and other college events throughout the country.

Borgs & Harm Reduction

Some people have praised borgs as an effective form of harm reduction. 

Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to reduce the negative consequences of drug use. It acknowledges the fact that many college students drink alcohol and highlights ways for them to drink more safely. 

Benefits Of Borgs

According to many harm reduction specialists, borgs have a number of benefits. First, unlike communal punch, borgs give students complete control over the amount of alcohol they consume. This makes it easier for them to stay within their personal limits. 

In addition, borgs can help students avoid getting their drinks spiked. That’s because most students carry their borgs with them and keep them sealed when they’re not drinking.

Finally, since borgs contain a lot of water (and sometimes Liquid IVs), they may lower the risk of dehydration. 

By staying hydrated, students can prevent classic hangover symptoms such as headache, thirst, and fatigue. They can also avoid severe dehydration, which causes symptoms like confusion, fainting, and shock. 

Risks Of Borgs

While they may be safer than other college drinking trends, borgs still encourage binge drinking. Binge drinking is a type of alcohol abuse that occurs when you bring your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most women reach this BAC after having 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours, while most men reach it after having 5 or more drinks in about 2 hours. 

A standard “drink” contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. This amount is found in 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of liquor. (To put it in perspective, there are almost 40 standard drinks in a typical borg.)

The most common risks of binge drinking among college students include:

Academic Problems

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about one in four college students miss class, fall behind on schoolwork, or experience other academic problems due to alcohol. 

Similarly, students who binge drink at least three times a week are about six times more likely to perform poorly on a test or project than students who don’t binge drink.

Accidents & Injuries

Alcohol impairs your judgment and coordination. Thus, students who binge drink face high risk of accidents, including:

• motor vehicle crashes
• falls
• burns
• drownings

Also, since alcohol causes aggression in some people, binge drinking can lead to violent behaviors, including sexual assault and homicide. 

Alcohol Poisoning 

Alcohol poisoning (also called alcohol overdose) is a condition that occurs when you drink so much alcohol that your breathing, heart rate, and other important functions start to shut down. Common symptoms include:

• confusion
• nausea and vomiting
• clammy skin
• trouble breathing
• slow heart rate
• extremely low body temperature
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

When left untreated, alcohol poisoning can cause permanent brain damage or death.          

Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (also called alcohol addiction) is a serious disease that makes you feel unable to control your alcohol consumption. Common symptoms include:

• strong cravings for alcohol
• tolerance (needing increasingly larger or more frequent drinks to feel the desired effects)
• physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and shaking, when you don’t drink alcohol)
• loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

In a 2019 national survey, about 9 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 met the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Like other addictions, alcohol use disorder requires treatment. To learn about treatment options, please reach out to an Ark Behavioral Health specialist. 

Our inpatient and outpatient treatment programs offer medical detox, mental health counseling, and other evidence-based services to help you or your loved one stay sober.