Borg (drink)

Borgs originated at parties at state universities in the United States as early as 2018, especially at large outdoor daytime parties, or "darties". The drink's popularity grew throughout the following few years, largely due to video trends on TikTok in which drinkers shared recipes and punny nicknames for their borgs. The COVID-19 pandemic may have also contributed to the popularity of the drink, as it is typically consumed by one person and not shared, reducing the risk of germ transmission. == Claimed benefits ==

One common claim is that the drink's high water content and inclusion of electrolytes may reduce the risks of binge drinking, including dehydration, alcohol intoxication, and hangovers. Borgs are typically made by the drinker, giving them more control over the contents. Other proposed benefits of borgs include their flavor additives masking the taste of alcohol, their translucent jugs allowing drinkers to see how much they have consumed and pace themselves, and their sealed containers allowing drinkers to circumvent open-container laws as well as reducing the risk of drug-facilitated sexual assault. == Risks ==

Medical experts have rejected the borg's claimed benefits, instead blaming the drink for promoting binge drinking. Many experts have warned that a borg's typical fifth of vodka, equivalent to roughly 16 shots, is dangerous for one person to consume, even when mixed with other ingredients or spread out over a full day. The National Capital Poison Center links borg consumption to increased risks for alcohol poisoning, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Boston University health law professor David Jernigan noted that the borg does not "meaningfully reduce the risks of drinking," including alcoholic liver disease. Stanford University psychiatry and addiction medicine professor Anna Lembke said that drinking a borg "can lead to potentially life-threatening consumption and alcohol poisoning", as the drink's alcohol quantity "totally overwhelms the capacity of the liver to metabolize it". Patients were transported to the hospital in 32 ambulances, a record in the history of the annual event. They were treated for a variety of alcohol-related issues including alcohol intoxication, but all were discharged without life-threatening injuries. == In popular culture ==

The 2024 Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, directed by Sam Gold, prominently featured a borg as a prop, held by Lord and Lady Capulet (portrayed by Sola Fadiran) throughout the play and used by Romeo (Kit Connor) to ingest the poison pill at the play's climax. Described by Today as "Chekhov's borg", the jug was labeled with various Shakespearean puns at each performance, including "to borg or not to borg" and "William Shakesborg". ==See also==