Talk It Out NC Teams Up with Carolina Hurricanes Against Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a serious issue across the United States. The problem is both pervasive and insidious and affects far more people than you might realize. It is estimated that children between the ages of 12 and 20 drink 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States. With so many youths across America at risk, programs are seeking new ways to spread awareness in their commitment to end underage drinking. One North Carolina program has joined forces with a popular professional National Hockey League franchise to share its message with people of all ages.

Talk It Out NC is excited to team up with the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team as they seek to spread their message against underage drinking.

A Dream Team for Alcohol Awareness

Talk It Out, an initiative of the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Commission, seeks to prevent underage drinking throughout the state. The program asks parents to start conversations with their children about the dangers of underage drinking. Through heightened awareness and family involvement, Talk It Out NC hopes to prevent underage alcohol use.

“Having Talk It Out NC team up with the Carolina Hurricanes is really a perfect storm,” said Jeff Strickland, programs coordinator for the Talk it Out Campaign. “Everyone here loves the Hurricanes, and to have them help us spread awareness about underage drinking has been tremendous.”

The initiative hopes to leverage the popularity of the Carolina Hurricanes to encourage parents and their children to take the pledge against underage drinking, to set good examples around alcohol, and be comfortable talking about the subject. Thanks to the surging popularity of the team, the program will be able to reach a much larger audience than initially expected.

A Storm is Brewing for Carolina

Although the Carolina Hurricanes brought the Stanley Cup to North Carolina in 2006, the team has not been to the NHL Playoffs in ten years. The last time the team made a post-season appearance was during the 2008-09 season, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Conference Finals.

Things are looking different for the Hurricanes this year. The plucky young team has become one of the most dynamic and fun teams to watch in the NHL. Carolina leads the league in shots against and shots for in offensive statistics. With its high-powered offense, the Hurricanes have become a popular team with both hometown die-hards and fans across the nation.

The team’s elaborate game celebrations, affectionately known as “storm surges,” certainly haven’t hurt the team’s popularity. From limbos to celebrity cameos, everyone wants in on the excitement. As the Hurricanes skate closer to making the playoffs for the first time in a decade, the added attention only serves to further boost the message of Talk It Out NC.

“As a North Carolina organization, we’ve always been big fans of the ‘Canes,” says Strickland. “Still, to have the team doing so well this year makes it even more fun, and brings out more fans to share our message with. It’s been a terrific experience, and we’re so thankful that we can all come together for such a good cause.”

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