WAXHAW, N.C. -- Two lives are lost every week in North Carolina to underage age drinking. The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission launched a campaign four months ago called Talk it Out NC to battle the ongoing issue.
In 2001, Peggy Bennett's phone rang at 2:45 am.
"And you just know its not good, when you reach for the phone, you just know," said Peggy Bennett.
Hospital staff told Bennett her 18-year-old son, Josh, had been in a car crash. He ran into a bridge abutment and his car caught fire. His blood alcohol level was 0.22.
"He was in the hospital for about five months," said Bennett, "He suffered a traumatic brain injury and he was in a coma."
Fourteen years later, after much rehabilitation and help from his parents, Josh Bennett visits young students as part of Talk it Out NC. The NC ABC Commission launched the statewide campaign in December after surveying 300 middle school students.
"13.9 is the average age that kids start drinking alcohol," said Hope Walker, a program development director with the NC ABC Commission. "Kids are getting alcohol from home, from their parents, they're getting alcohol from sibling."
Wednesday's stop was at Marvin Ridge High in Union County.
"This is our first high school that we've addressed, and we tend to do more of those in the future now that its prom season and spring break and graduation," said Walker.
Talk it out NC wants parents and kids to talk about drinking instead of parents handing out lectures.
"If we can save one life with this campaign then we've done our job," said Walker.
But Josh Bennett said one life is not enough.
"I want to save all of them," he said.