The world of TikTok can be mystifying and bizarre. Trends sweep through the social media app like wildfire. Some trends—like dance challenges and lip sync videos—are cute and funny. But many like the recent borg trend, dangerous. The borg trend is potentially fatal. In this challenge, young adults—mostly college students—mix homemade cocktails in a gallon jug. While borg drinking may sound new, it’s actually a thinly disguised way of engaging in binge drinking.

What Is a BORG?

Borg is an acronym that stands for “blackout rage gallon.” As the name implies, it’s an alcoholic mixture in a gallon jug. The concoction typically includes a cocktail of part water, part alcohol (often vodka), part powdered or liquid flavor enhancer, and part electrolytes. The mixture is tailored to the maker’s taste and is meant to reduce hangovers. Gen Zers are using borgs at mixers, tailgate parties, and outdoor parties.

The Risks of Borg Drinking

Many borg drinkers may look at their homemade BORG and assume they’re being responsible by adding water and electrolytes to balance out some of the damage of liquor. The fact is borg drinking is very dangerous. Borgs can be consumed too quickly, or compromised by someone else. And the drinker can add more alcohol at any time if they decide it’s not strong enough.

Borg drinkers may assume the presence of water and electrolytes in their gallon cocktail makes them less dangerous. But they’re wrong. Hospitals and ERs are seeing an increased number of patients who’ve been admitted as a result of borg drinking. BORG drinking can lead to:

Alcohol poisoning

Vomiting

Loss of memory

Unconsciousness

Increased risk of violence or assault (as both perpetrator and victim)

Young adults have a lot on their plate. They are facing generational and societal traumas like gun violence, systemic racism, increased sexual assaults, isolation and pandemic-related stresses, financial worries, and climate change. Society, however, is slow to respond to the growing need for additional mental health resources for young people.

More and more, young people turn to drinking to cope with the stresses of their lives. As mental health concerns get worse, so does alcohol abuse. In order to improve young adult mental health and decrease substance abuse, college students and other Gen Z need healthy coping mechanisms and strategies to express and process their experiences.

Learn more at www.newportinstitute.com or call 877-843-2870