Talk It Out NC encourages parents to discuss underage drinking during summer road trips

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — As families prepare to travel for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, a North Carolina underage drinking prevention campaign is encouraging parents to use time in the car to talk with their children about alcohol.

During an interview with WWAY, Stacy Grier, director of education and community outreach for the North Carolina ABC Commission, said summer road trips can provide an opportunity for parents to have conversations that may otherwise be difficult to start.

Talk It Out NC is an initiative of the North Carolina ABC Commission focused on reducing underage drinking by encouraging parents to begin discussing alcohol with their children at an early age.

Grier said many young people have their first alcoholic drink around ages 15 or 16, though some are exposed to alcohol at younger ages.

“We don’t want to wait until they’re 15 or 16 and they’re starting to drive,” Grier said. “It might be a little late at that point.”

She encouraged parents to have short, informal conversations throughout the year rather than waiting for one major discussion.

According to Grier, road trips can provide uninterrupted time to ask children what they know about alcohol, how it affects the body and brain, and how it can impact activities such as sports.

“You have their undivided attention,” Grier said. “Take five minutes while you’re maybe taking a break at the gas station … having that quick conversation where it’s not weird. We want it to be natural.”

To promote those conversations, Talk It Out NC is offering a summer road trip giveaway that includes a $250 gas card, games, snacks and conversation starters. Families can enter through the organization’s website and receive additional contest entries by sharing photos of their “dashboard discussions” during summer travel.

The campaign also offers downloadable conversation guides, information about alcohol’s effects on young athletes and family pledge cards encouraging children to wait until age 21 before drinking alcohol.

Grier said the goal is to help parents build trust by making conversations about alcohol a regular part of family life rather than waiting until children are older.