Recent research highlights troubling drinking behaviors associated with the consumption of borgs at U.S. colleges. Borgs, which stand for ‘black-out rage gallons,’ are large cocktails made by mixing liquor, water, supplements, and flavorings in containers such as milk jugs. Users carry their personalized borgs at events, believing they offer a safer alternative to communal drinks. However, a study questions these assumptions.
A study published in a Rutgers University journal by the University of Chicago researchers investigated borg usage. On average, students drinking borgs consumed 9.4 standard alcoholic drinks compared to 6.3 drinks on non-borg days. High-intensity drinking linked borgs to alcohol poisoning risk.
The study examined 9.4 drinks with borgs vs. 6.3 on non-borg days.
Concerns about borgs include potential binge drinking due to easy access to large quantities of mixed liquor. Dr. Andrea C. King emphasized the risks due to the sweetness and sharing culture of borgs, increasing consumption and peer pressure.
Notably, incidents at the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed borgs leading to hospitalizations from alcohol intoxication. Despite risks, 68% of study participants indicated they would use borgs again, valuing the social aspect. However, the study found no significant support for borgs reducing contamination or aiding in harm reduction.
Researchers urge caution, highlighting that while proponents claim borgs help control intake, evidence disagrees. College campuses are asked to evaluate borg-related risks to student health.
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