Viral TikTok ‘borg’ binge drinking trend becomes toxic on campuses
Amy DeLaura
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The University of Massachusetts is warning students about the new drink combination causing 28 ambulances to be called to off-campus parties. TikTok is being blamed for circulating the drink trend and ingredients. The social media platform is already in hot water with the U.S. government, with bills being floated in congress to ban TikTok.
The drink deemed “borg,” or “blackout rage gallons,” is encouraging students to binge copious amounts of alcohol from gallon jugs. The infamous drink is trending on TikTok with videos showing borg recipes, borg challenges, and borg puns.
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Students were seen carrying the jugs at the annual “Blarney Blowout,” an unsanctioned University of Massachusetts student event. Some were seen naming their jugs with borg puns on social media while noticeably intoxicated.
https://www.tiktok.com/@kettlebellkel/video/7207078202961857834
People in the comments claim the goal is to have one’s own drink to bring to parties to prevent spreading germs or getting slipped with a date rape drug. Students promote drinking this combination of water, electrolytes, and vodka because they have the misconception it will help them stay hydrated while they drink.
However, health officials said it is not advisable for anyone to drink half a gallon of vodka.
“There is nothing unique about a borg that is going to lend itself to better control over drinking,” said Dr. George F. Koob, the director at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “It really doesn’t matter how the body takes in alcohol. What’s important is the quantity of alcohol that’s being taken in.”
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University officials said this is the first time the university has observed widespread use of borgs at off-campus parties. There were so many calls for ambulances for student alcohol intoxication neighboring agencies stepped in to help. While the Amherst Fire Department said none of the cases were life-threatening, the University of Massachusetts Police Department reported two arrests for underage drinking.
Koob said knowing what a standard drink is and one’s limit is important.
“A standard drink is 1 1/2 ounces of vodka, 12 ounces of beer, or five ounces of wine,” said Koob. “When you go past a standard drink, you really are getting to the point where alcohol ultimately becomes a toxin. You can easily overdose.”
Referring to the ingredient list in the borg drinks, if they are actually half a gallon of vodka, each borg is over 40 mixed drinks. He said the repercussions of that kind of binge drinking are more than just getting blacked out.
“You can kill yourself basically,” Koob warned. “Individuals who engage in binge drinking, high-intensity drinking, eight drinks for females, 10 drinks for males, you’re approaching danger levels for your life.”
Koob said binge drinking has become more prevalent since the pandemic because people are wanting to catch up on times they feel they have missed with friends while being in lockdown.
“It’s what we call the alcohol deprivation effect. People tend to really rebound in drinking after a period of not drinking,” Koob said. “We are a little concerned that this spring and spring break is going to be a return to a good amount of binge drinking. I just want to caution everyone that when you start hitting the binge drinking level, you start doing really bad things to your body.”
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Koob also mentioned an increase in bad behavior while binge drinking. University officials spoke with residents in the neighborhoods who were appalled by the overly inebriated students stumbling the streets with their ubiquitous borgs, as reported by a local outlet.
TikTok, where the borg became popular, has been in the Senate spotlight for weeks as congress is looking to ban the app nationwide due to its connection to China. The Biden administration has already banned the app from government devices.