The potential hazards of consuming BORG beverages.
If you have no clue what that sentence entails, you're most likely not a part of Generation Z.
The term BORG, which stands for "blackout rage gallon," refers to a beverage concoction commonly made in a gallon-sized plastic jug. This mixture typically consists of vodka or other distilled alcohol, water, a flavor enhancer, and an electrolyte powder or drink. These beverages are often consumed during outdoor day parties, a.k.a. darties.
BORGs can be quite hazardous due to the high alcohol content, as per Dr. Anna Lembke, a professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine at Stanford University in California. Consuming one could potentially lead to alcohol poisoning and other life-threatening consequences.
Sabrina Grimaldi, creator and editor-in-chief of online lifestyle magazine The Zillennial Zine, compares BORGs to the updated version of jungle juice. The platform primarily targets the micro-generation between millennials and Gen Z.
"Instead of making a party-sized mixed drink in a 5-gallon drink dispenser, a giant storage tub, or the silliest fad which was making jungle juice in a sink or bathtub, everyone has their own personal drink." Grimaldi stated to CNN via email. BORG's underlying intention, as suggested by its name, is to get extremely drunk.
The social contagion aspect of BORGs adds to their danger, according to Lembke.
"Kids see others doing it and want to try it as well. That's another danger here: to normalize a deviant behavior by spreading it on social media," she said.
Grimaldi, who's 24 years old, first became aware of BORGs earlier this year when her editorial intern, Kelly Xiong, 21, proposed an article about their popularity among Gen Zers.
"I graduated college in 2020, so it's been a while since I've been part of the college party scene—especially with the pandemic-related restrictions," Grimaldi stated. "It's mind-blowing how these microtrends appear."
Xiong, recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, first learned about BORGs during her sophomore year in college as well.
"It was during a St. Patrick's Day block darty, and almost everybody was carrying their own BORG," she said in an email to CNN. BORGs are especially popular at large outdoor day parties or "special occasion darties."
The term's origins are challenging to trace, but BORGs made headlines, like in March 2023 when over two dozen students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst were taken to the hospital following an off-campus event, with many of them carrying BORGS.
The trend extends beyond the college demographic.
At a high school senior class pool party last year, as well as this year, "everyone made their own BORG," said Virginia, an 18-year-old senior at a private high school in Tampa, Florida, who chose to remain anonymous to safeguard her privacy.
Virginia cited the social component as a reason for the BORGs' appeal. "You have to name your BORG and get creative by writing the name on it with a Sharpie," she explained.
BORG-related jugs with punny names like Captain Borgan, Our Borg and Savior, Borgan Donor, and Borgan Wallen are all over TikTok. The creativity in the names contributes to the potential danger of drinking BORGs.
Virginia acknowledges the dangers of BORGs but said people don't typically measure the vodka used, making it more hazardous than drinking beer or wine.
"A lot of people just pour vodka in and don't measure it, so it can actually be more dangerous than knowing you drank three cans of beer," she said. "Nobody's rationing how much they'll drink."
Even for individuals who are 21 years old or older—the legal drinking age in the US—the heavy consumption can be risky.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a standard drink in the US consists of 1 to 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer. Drinking more than four standard drinks for women and five standard drinks for men over a two-hour period is considered binge drinking.
"A BORG often holds a fifth (25.6 fluid ounces or 3.2 cups) of vodka or other hard alcohol, which is roughly 17 standard drinks," Lembke said. "That's a significant amount of alcohol."
Even though no amount of drinking is considered safe or healthy, the World Heart Federation's 2022 policy brief states there is "no level of alcohol consumption that is safe for health."
If you do choose to drink, medical professionals suggest you practice moderation. This means consuming no more than 3 ounces of alcohol for women or 4 ounces for men in a full day, as per the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. According to Dr. Lembke, it's best not to turn it into a regular habit.
The human liver's alcohol processing capabilities are approximately 1 ounce (or one standard drink) per hour. Dr. Lembke points out that downing a BORG can overload the liver's metabolizing capacity, especially for those who are new to alcohol consumption.
She also stressed that the presence of a sweetening agent like electrolyte drinks or water enhancers in BORGs makes them even more harmful. "It gives them a more pleasant taste, making it easier for people to consume larger quantities than they would with plain spirits like vodka," she explained. "However, this doesn't improve the liver's ability to process alcohol any faster."
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Engaging in wellness activities could be a great counterbalance to the potential harm of BORG consumption. Regular exercise, balanced diet, and adequate sleep can help boost one's overall health and well-being.
Despite the life-threatening consequences of BORGs, the social contagion aspect and the lack of measuring alcohol content can make it difficult for individuals to practice moderation, emphasizing the importance of promoting wellness practices.
Source: edition.cnn.com
