The University of Massachusetts is warning about a TikTok drinking trend after 28 ambulances were summoned to off-campus parties.

Students were observed Saturday carrying jugs with a mixture of alcohol, electrolytes, flavoring and water, dubbed “blackout rage gallons,” or “BORGs," in a binge-drinking trend gaining traction on TikTok, officials said.

There were so many calls for ambulances for student alcohol intoxication that neighboring agencies stepped in to help, officials said. The Amherst Fire Department said none of the cases were life-threatening. UMass Police reported two arrests for underage drinking.

UMass officials said this is the first time the university has observed widespread use of BORGs at off-campus parties.

In a statement, the university said the weekend's events will be assessed and steps taken to improve alcohol education. Incoming students already learn about physiological and medical risks of binge drinking.

The weekend’s festivities are known among UMass students as the “Blarney Blowout," an annual unsanctioned event related to upcoming St. Patrick's Day, local media reported.

Share:
More In General News
Mississippi River Flooding Prompts Evacuations, Sandbagging
Some residents along the swelling Upper Mississippi River evacuated their homes this week while others scrambled Wednesday to stack sandbags in preparation for what forecasters say could be near-record flooding caused by the rapid melting of a huge snowpack in northern Minnesota.
Shannon Shapes Up: Learning How to Exercise by Surfing
Cheddar News correspondent Shannon LaNier continues his weeklong series, Shannon Shapes Up, exploring alternative ways to get fit. In today's episode, he learns about the benefits of surfing as exercise with Aaron Thouvenin, owner of Surf Set in midtown Manhattan.
Taliban Kill Mastermind of Suicide Bombing at Kabul Airport
A ground assault by the Taliban killed the Islamic State militant who spearheaded the August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that left 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghans dead during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
Load More