The viral trend of “borgs” — large, personal cocktails mixed in gallon jugs — may be fueling more dangerous drinking habits on college campuses than previously thought, according to a new peer-reviewed study. The research, published in a Rutgers University journal, challenges the notion that these homemade concoctions offer a safer alternative to communal party drinks.
Borgs, short for “black-out rage gallons,” typically combine a fifth of liquor, water, electrolyte supplements, and flavorings in a repurposed milk jug. The trend exploded on social media in the early 2020s, with proponents touting the ability to control ingredients and avoid shared punch bowls. However, the new findings suggest that these perceived benefits may be illusory.
The study, led by Andrea C. King, PhD, of the University of Chicago’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, surveyed a sample of U.S. college students about their drinking behaviors. Results showed that on days when students drank from borgs, they consumed an average of 9.4 standard alcoholic drinks, compared to 6.3 on other binge-drinking days. This significant increase in consumption is particularly alarming given the high alcohol content often found in borgs.
Nearly all borg users in the study reported getting drunk or buzzed, with 29% experiencing blackouts. More than half admitted to doing something embarrassing while drinking a borg, and 17% reported vomiting. The study also cited past incidents, including a 2023 hospitalization of dozens of students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as evidence of the potential harm.
King noted in a news release that while drinking games have long been associated with risky alcohol use, borgs present unique dangers. “The mixing of hard liquor and additive flavorings in BORGs may be particularly harmful given the sweetness of the beverage and the lure of sharing one’s BORG and tasting others’ concoctions,” she said. Indeed, the study found that nearly all participants had sipped from another’s borg or shared their own, undermining claims of reduced contamination.
Despite these risks, 68% of participants said they would likely use a borg again within the next year, primarily because they found it enhanced socializing and fun. Researchers, however, argue that the data does not support the touted benefits of controlled intake or harm reduction. “The present data show that individuals who use BORGs perceive them as highly social,” the study reads, “but other aspects — controlling alcohol intake, reducing contamination, and helping with harm reduction — were not supported by this study.”
Amelia McCoun, a licensed professional counselor at Texas Tech University, had earlier suggested borgs could serve as a harm-reduction tool, allowing students to discreetly limit their alcohol. But she also warned of the dangers of pre-mixed, easily accessible drinks. The new research appears to validate her concerns, indicating that the trend may be doing more harm than good.
As colleges grapple with alcohol-related policies, this study adds to the growing body of evidence on the risks of high-intensity drinking. For more on related policy debates, see how remote work impacts student performance and veteran support on campuses.
