BORG binge-drinking alert
BU warns against TikTok trend
Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, Boston University is warning students to stay away from a viral TikTok college drinking trend that recently sent dozens of UMass Amherst students to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.
A “BORG,” or a “black out rage gallon,” has taken off on college campuses. In a typical personal borg, the gallon container is half full of water, with a devastating fifth of alcohol (about 17 shots), and a liquid flavor enhancer like Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier.
Boston University Student Health Services — in a post addressed to students for a “safe St. Patrick’s Day” — wrote that they should not drink BORGs, and emphasized it’s not a safer way to drink booze.
“We don’t recommend drinking a BORG,” Boston University Student Health Services posted on Instagram.
“Since BORGs contain water and sometimes electrolytes, there’s a misconception that a BORG is hydrating and therefore a safer way to drink,” BU Student Health Services wrote. “It’s not true.”
The college drinking trend has gone viral on TikTok, where social media users claim that drinking from a BORG can cut down on the chances of a hangover. That’s not true and it’s very troubling that some students believe that, according to health experts.
“Many recipes call for up to 17 shots of liquor,” BU Student Health Services wrote. “Even if consumed over many hours, this is enough alcohol to cause an emergency.
“The size of the BORG makes it hard to track how much you’ve had to drink,” they added. “Mixing alcohol with caffeine can mask the feeling of intoxication and other effects from alcohol, making it more likely for someone to overdrink.”
BORG drinking has become popular in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as students are focused on avoiding infectious diseases, according to health experts. Students also like BORGs because there’s no fear of being drugged.
BU Student Health Services said if students are going to make a BORG, they should try this safer approach — “Use less alcohol than the recipe calls for: measure out one shot per hour you plan on drinking.”
“You could also add no alcohol, nobody will know!” BU Student Health Services added.
“Drink it slowly over a longer period of time,” they wrote. “It can take up to 30 minutes to feel the effects of one standard drink (like one shot).”
Students should also not mix in caffeine.
“Check in with yourself and your friends,” BU Student Health Services said. “Be aware of how you’re feeling, take breaks, and don’t leave your drink unattended to reduce the risk of drink spiking.”
BU’s Good Samaritan Policy means that when a student seeks help for themselves or others who’ve used alcohol or drugs, neither student will receive a sanction for alcohol or drug use, as long as they complete an educational or counseling program on campus.
If you think someone might be experiencing an alcohol or drug emergency, call for help immediately. If you are on campus, call BU Police at 617-353-2121. If you are off campus, call 911.