NC ABC Commission Launches New Anti-Underage Drinking Resources at NC PTA Conference

RALEIGH, NC – During the 2015 NC PTA Parent Education & Leadership Conference in Raleigh today in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) launched a new resource for PTAs and community leaders across the state.

The Talk It Out Presentation Toolkit, part of the ABC Commission’s statewide campaign targeting underage drinking in North Carolina, provides PTAs and community leaders with everything they need to lead a successful and effective meeting about the issue of underage drinking in North Carolina. The Toolkit empowers local groups to target parents with a message that builds awareness about the issue and of the tools available to them to talk to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking.

Talk It Out, launched in December 2014, is a multi-media campaign designed to raise awareness of the issue, and to give parents the right tools for talking to kids about the dangers of underage drinking.

“The North Carolina Parent Teacher Association continually advocates for parental involvement in the education and lives of their children. Discussions about underage drinking are vitally important to families, and Talk It Out helps give parents the necessary tools to hold those conversations,” said Donald Dunn, president, North Carolina Parent Teacher Association. “We are pleased to partner with them to present this toolkit for PTAs to consider in planning workshops and programs in their communities.”

NC ABC Commission Chairman Jim Gardner also provided an update on various components of the campaign, including the Commission’s research, as well as broadcast, web, social media and new campaign activities on the horizon.

“The North Carolina ABC Commission is grateful for our partnership with the North Carolina PTA. They are active, concerned parents and are on the front lines in fighting the battle against underage drinking among our youth,” said Gardner. “We’re pleased today to give them a new tool to put in their advocacy toolkit. Underage drinking is an issue that has been swept under the rug for far too long. And its community leaders like those here today who really are making a difference in the lives of our young people.”

To access the new Talk It Out Presentation Toolkit and other campaign resources, visit www.TalkItOutNC.org.

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. For more information on how to get involved, visit https://ncadd.org/programs-a-services/alcohol-awareness-month.

ABOUT THE NC ABC COMMISSION

North Carolina is one of 17 states to regulate alcohol through a control system. Since 1937, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has provided regulation and control over the sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in the state of North Carolina. The Commission oversees permits allowing alcohol sales by more than 18,000 retail outlets across the state. http://abc.nc.gov