Borg (drink)

A borg (sometimes BORG, short for blackout rage gallon) is a mixed drink made in a plastic gallon jug, generally containing water, vodka, flavored drink mix such as MiO or Kool-Aid, and sometimes electrolyte mix such as Pedialyte. The drink gained popularity at universities in the United States in the early 2020s, spreading among members of Generation Z on TikTok in late 2022 and early 2023. A borg is designed to be held and consumed by one individual throughout a party, distinguishing it from older communally-served party drinks (which may have similar ingredients) such as jungle juice and punch. Drinkers typically label their borg jug with a nickname, often a pun on the word "borg." A borg's high alcohol content and convenient packaging facilitates binge drinking, with a typical recipe calling for a fifth of vodka, equivalent to about 16 drinks. The drink has been touted as a hangover remedy and a harm reduction strategy, supposedly counteracting the effects of alcohol with water and electrolytes, but these claims are not grounded in scientific evidence. Officials blamed borg consumption for a mass hospitalization event at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in March 2023.