‘Borg’ College Drinking Trend Parents Should Know

No, “Star Trek” followers, the rise of the borg isn’t a resurgence of an alien race of cyborgs. It’s a consuming pattern that’s going round on TikTok.

Binge-drinking faculty college students have not too long ago latched onto the concept of a inventive alcoholic beverage nicknamed the “black-out rage gallon,” making “borg” an acronym. The borg is a gallon jug that includes equal components water and vodka. Then, a “taste enhancer” and/or caffeinated liquid like Mio Energy is added, together with powdered electrolytes.

Right here’s a College of Texas at Austin pupil who goes by the deal with @bellaaalonzo sharing her model on TikTok on the finish of January. The video now has 2.2 million views.

@bellaaalonzo

Find out how to make a BORG that truly tastes good (coronary heart assault in a jug) blissful snow day! #snowday #darty #borg #celsiuslivefit #utaustin #atx

♬ original sound – 🔔uh

The concept behind the borg is that you’re nonetheless capable of drink with out a few of the nastier unintended effects of imbibing alcohol. And it’s been gaining in popularity because the pandemic, when the concept of shared drinks wasn’t so palatable. Some are even labeling their borgs with punny names like “Ron Borgundy” and “SpongeBorg.”

Right here’s one of many earliest examples of a borg tutorial on TikTok again in 2020 from a person named Autumn, who goes by @disneyprincessofdeath.

@disneyprincessofdeath

Let me know should you strive it! #piday #Alcohol #duet #fyp

♬ Buttercup – Jack Stauber

Some say borgs are an indication of progress in decreasing faculty consuming hazards — college students are nonetheless consuming however making an attempt to do it “higher.” As commenters on TikTok have identified, the borg lets folks customise their cocktail (for taste, power, caffeine, hydration degree and different components) and monitor how a lot they’re consuming.

“In terms of substance use prevention, hurt discount acknowledges that persons are going to make their very own selections in the case of alcohol and different medication,” Erin Monroe, a creator who says on her TikTok that she’s credentialed in substance use prevention in New York, told NBC News. “However there are methods we are able to use to scale back a few of the danger.”

Right here’s Monroe explaining her “hurt discount” ideas additional in a TikTok publish. She notes that every individual having their very own closed gallon jug is extra sanitary and doubtlessly prevents a state of affairs the place a stranger slips medication right into a communal drink or open container.

@erin.monroe_

#genz #millennial #harmreduction #fyp @rosieposie1616 #stitch

♬ original sound – Erin Monroe

Consuming a borg extra slowly over a time frame may additionally assist cut back the consequences of alcohol.

Nevertheless, there are those who don’t suppose borgs are an awesome thought in any respect, together with a Boston College professor who spoke on a local news section in regards to the pattern.

“There’s nonetheless a harmful drug in that drink. It’s known as alcohol,” David Jernigan of the Well being Legislation, Coverage & Administration division at BU, advised Boston 25. “Calling this a stylish factor is trivializing. That is merely encouraging extra binge consuming.”

Tufts ER doctor Dr. Gus Colangelo additionally identified that there may very well be social strain to complete your complete borg and that the flavors blended in with the drink may make you overlook simply how a lot alcohol is in there. He additionally mentioned that of the ER sufferers he sees in downtown Boston, an enormous faculty city, as much as 70% of sufferers are there due to some complication associated to binge consuming.

“Typically they drank 5 Manhattans and generally they drank a borg,” Colangelo told Boston 25 News.

A Healthline story on the borg pattern quoted a professor from New York College’s Langone Well being, Dr. Pantea Farahmand, as saying that touting the “hurt discount” features of a borg goes too far.

“After we’re pondering of portions of consuming which can be thought-about secure, greater than two pictures isn’t thought-about secure,” Farahmand mentioned. “Mixing that with water is one factor, however should you’re including caffeine, that’s dehydrating and can undo any constructive results of the water. Who actually cares about further electrolytes being added? It received’t cancel out the quantity of injury alcohol can do.”

The physician additionally mentioned the borg rising from a social media pattern is one other instance of the harm that “data overload” can have on Gen Z.

“I believe totally different generations have totally different developments and the distinction with Gen Z is that they’ve entry to a variety of data in a short time,” Farahmand advised Healthline. “You could have entry to thousands and thousands of individuals arising with the identical thought and who propagate misinformation much more rapidly. In case you’re a youngster and listen to sufficient folks saying the identical factor, even when you have your doubts, you may fall for it.”