Last Updated on November 15, 2023

Heads up: At Sunnyside we don’t condone binge drinking at all. It’s a dangerous form of drinking alcohol. However, the borg trend is here to stay for now, and as mindful drinkers ourselves, this article is intended to share more mindful ways to think about making your borg if that’s your drink of choice.

The go-to drink for many Gen Z college students is the borg cocktail. Simple in nature, it’s a blend of three components: water, vodka (or other clear liquor), and some form of flavoring, typically MiO or Crystal light. 

With Spring Break just around the corner, it’s no doubt that borgs (Black Out Rage Gallons) will be all the…rage, pun intended.

But let’s face it, sometimes you need a little bit more complexity and flavor in your drinks. In this post, I’ll share some borg recipe variations that are both flavorful and more importantly, mindful.

What is a Borg and How Did it Originate?

In a nutshell, a borg is the Gen Z version of Jungle Juice. It gained popularity on TikTok and stands for Blackout Rage Gallon. The preparation couldn’t be easier. All you need is an empty plastic gallon container, pour in water until it’s half full (or more full, depending on how you’re trying to feel the next day), then add vodka and your flavor mix of choice.

Some people even add electrolytes to their borg mixes to increase hydration and limit the effects of a hangover, so in some cases you could say that a borg could be a way to drink mindfully.

But, before becoming a borg embracer, not all borgs and borg makers are mindful when it comes to preparation. There are many variations with the methods used to prepare borgs on TikTok, and in many cases, those methods are not mindful.

Despite the framing of this hefty cocktail by Gen Z college students as a ‘hangover free’ and health conscious drink, it’s easily abused. In fact, the drink has recently been connected with hospitalizing many students. 

Despite the TikTok trend of only using a third of a bottle of vodka in a recipe, many young people abuse the concept and take advantage of the gallon for a more alcohol-forward concoction. In other words, they literally make a ‘blackout rage gallon’.

In all seriousness, borgs, even though promoted as a trendy and harmless way of drinking, are still alcoholic beverages that are intended to promote binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption. 

With Spring Break around the corner, it’s no doubt that many students will indulge in a variety of borgs. And in this economy, who knows what ratios they are sticking to? 

Let’s be real, Spring Break is not an event that is considered mindful in nature. But hopefully with better awareness around mindful drinking, and more education on the health implications of over-drinking, there is hope for a safer and healthier Spring Break (at least as it relates to alcohol). 

Spring Break and The Importance of Mindful Drinking

It’s no secret that spring break is potentially one of the most dangerous drinking events for many college students. In some surveys it was found that many students would be drinking as much as 18 drinks per day. 

In other words, it’s a major period of extreme binge drinking practices among young adults. And although it’s unrealistic to encourage people to completely stop drinking during Spring Break, there are ways to incorporate mindful drinking habits in order to stay safe while indulging.

So if you’re planning on participating in spring break drinking activities, try some of these ‘mindful’ borg recipes so that your alcohol consumption stays moderate rather than extreme.

4 Borg Recipes to Keep You Mindful During Spring Break 2023

As stated above, borgs are generally not mindful, but have the potential to be modified so that you can pace yourself, without depriving yourself. The following recipes are twists on typical borgs, and confirmed to be mindful so that you enjoy Spring Break without risking a hangover and your safety.

In order to start on your mindful borg recipes you will need the following items:

• 1x Gallon jug
• Water
• Clear alcohol (more to follow)
• Vitamin/Electrolyte mix (like MiO, Crystal light, or Pedialyte)

Each borg recipe below is simple to make, delicious, and (as long as you pace yourself) is absent of harsh hangover symptoms. There is the equivalent of roughly 5 to 8 standard drinks per borg, so the entire jug should last you the majority of your Spring Break week, and it is not encouraged to drink the entire contents in a single sitting. For more information on binge drinking and the health impacts of excessive drinking, read this article. 

Mindful Borg Recipe #1: Citrus Delight borg

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon jug filled ⅔ of the way with water
• 1 cup of citrus vodka
• 2 packets of lemonade mix (Crystal Light or any other brand)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• Ice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pour the water and vodka into the gallon jug.
2. Add the lemonade mix and stir until it dissolves.
3. Add the sliced lemon and lime.
4. Chill the borg in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
5. Add ice for extra chill. 

Mindful Borg Recipe #2: Berry Burst borg

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon jug filled ⅔ of the way with water
• 1 cup of raspberry vodka
• 2 packets of mixed berry mix (Crystal Light or any other brand)
• 1 cup of frozen mixed berries
• Ice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pour the water and vodka into the gallon jug.
2. Add the mixed berry mix and stir until it dissolves.
3. Add the frozen mixed berries.
4. Chill the borg in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
5. Serve over ice, or add ice directly to the gallon.

Mindful Borg Recipe #3: Spicy Pineapple borg

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon jug filled ⅔ of the way with water
• 1 cup of jalapeno vodka
• 2 packets of pineapple mix (Crystal Light or any other brand)
• 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks
• Ice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pour the water and vodka into the gallon jug.
2. Add the pineapple mix and stir until it dissolves.
3. Add the fresh pineapple chunks.
4. Chill the borg in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
5. Serve over ice.

Mindful Borg Recipe #4: Herbal Gin Infusion borg

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon of water
• 1 cup of gin
• 2 herbal tea bags (like Lemon Ginger or Chamomile)
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• 1 bunch of fresh mint leaves
• 2 oz of lime juice
• 1 cup of simple syrup (more if you want it sweeter)
• 1 cup of Pedialyte

Instructions:

1. Steep water with tea bags overnight. 
2. Add gin and tea mix into the gallon jug.
3. Add the simple syrup and shake until it dissolves.
4. Add the sliced cucumber and fresh mint leaves.
5. Mix in Pedialyte (optional).
6. Chill the borg in the fridge for at least an hour before enjoying.

Sunnyside is Your Partner in a Healthy Spring Break

Drinking during Spring Break can be a fun and enjoyable activity, but it’s important to be mindful of your alcohol consumption in order to stay safe and avoid dangerous situations. By trying out some of these mindful borg recipes, you can still indulge in a tasty and refreshing drink while keeping your alcohol intake in check, and continuing to make good decisions. Remember to always drink responsibly and prioritize your safety and well-being. 

Start by signing up for a Sunnyside free 15-day trial  to create your personalized plan for the week, and build a healthier relationship with alcohol.