December 20, 2018
We are rapidly learning plastic and plastic straws have a direct impact on marine life and man. A past N.E.S.T. post related the effects of non-recycled plastic straws and for that information click here.
The Outer Banks Brewing Station Restaurant and Brewery located in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is walking the walk when it addresses the environmental impact of plastic straws and other environmental issues by becoming a premier ocean friendly establishment.
As you enter the ocean friendly establishment, your attention is drawn to the notice on the entrance door which notifies patrons that “we skip the straw”
we skip the straw is displayed at the entrance to the Outer Banks Brewing Station Restaurant and Brewery
The Outer Banks Brewing Station also offers a kids menu which gives information as to why we should say no to straws:
- 500 million straws are used daily, enough to fill 46,600 school buses!
- As time goes by plastic (straws) separates into smaller pieces, but never completely breaks down, eventually our oceans will be plastic soup.
- Straws are in the top 10 garbage items found in our waters, sadly many of the sea animals eat them and then die.
Outer Banks Brewing Station kids menu
The kids menu also lists Turtle Tips From N.E.S.T. (Network for Endangered Sea Turtles)
- Minimize beach front lights at night during nesting season May-October.
- DO NOT leave chairs and other obstacles on the beach at night.
- DO fill in sandcastle moats because turtles can get stuck in them.
- DO NOT turn balloons loose, turtles think they are jellyfish and eat them.
The Outer Banks Brewing Station Restaurant and Brewery is recognized as an Ocean Friendly Establishment by the Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. and Surfrider Foundation Cape Fear Chapter. It also offers an option to the use of plastic straws with the purchase of a metal reusable straw.
The ocean friendly establishment award and the metal straw option
The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) salutes the efforts of the Outer Banks Brewing Station Restaurant and Brewery and all resturants who are and will become ocean friendly establishments to help the environment and all marine life.