Two of the region's best known third generation family owned and operated businesses - NOCO Express and Try-it Distributing, Inc. - announced a joint partnership in the Anheuser Busch program, Family Talk, a guide that offers advice for open and straightforward communication between parents and children about underage drinking. The Family Talk program is designed to help prevent underage drinking by encouraging open, honest communication between parents and children and illustrate the dangers associated with underage drinking.

"All of us must work together to remain vigilant in our efforts to combat the scourge of underage drinking in our community," Michael F. Newman, executive vice president, NOCO Energy Corporation said. "We are delighted to be partnering with a company like Try-It Distributing that shares our values and commitment to Western New York as well as the generosity of Anheuser Busch in providing us the resources to combat this societal dilemma."

"As companies involved in the selling and distribution of alcoholic beverages we have a duty and responsibility to do all we can to help parents teach their children about the dangers of underage drinking," Paul Vukelic, president, Try-It Distributing Co., Inc. said. "Through our collective resources we can help spread the word about underage drinking to families throughout Western New York. It's just another way of maintaining the respective traditions of NOCO and Try-It in giving back to the community."

Beginning on September 14th while supplies last, NOCO Express will offer customers a freeFamily Talk guide at all of the company's 32 locations. The guide is the result of input by an advisory panel of education, family counseling, child psychology, and alcohol treatment professionals. Created in 1990 by Anheuser-Busch, more than 6 million copies of Family Talk guides have been distributed to parents and community groups throughout the country, and thousands of copies have been downloaded from the Internet.

"We have established strict alcohol sale policies that go above and beyond what is mandated by state regulations and continuously train our associates on these policies to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors," Henry Bays, general manager, NOCO Express said. "The Family Guide is just one more way to help our associates who are on the frontlines in preventing the sale of alcohol to underage youth."

NOCO owns and operates a diverse group of businesses primarily focused on the sale and distribution of energy and petroleum products. For over 70-years, NOCO has provided the Western New York community with the highest quality heating fuels together with unmatched customer service. NOCO distributes a full line of commercial fuels, industrial lubricants, bio-products, home energy fuel, and heating and cooling systems. The company also operates more than 30 NOCO Express service stations and convenience stores throughout Western New York. NOCO Express is a division of NOCO Energy Corp., a third generation, local, family-owned business based in Tonawanda, New York. NOCO Express employs approximately 250 people.

Try-It Distributing Co., Inc. also is a third generation, locally family owned business based in Lancaster, New York. Try-It employs 250 people and operates a fleet of 55 vehicles. The company owns and operates a 150,000 square foot sales and service center. The state-of-the-art facility was planned and constructed with technical precision, to ensure that the products are warehoused in an ideal climate and delivered with accurate efficiency. In addition to its quality beer brands, Try-It also distributes Monster Energy Drinks. Try-It also formed Balkan Beverage in 2004 to distribute other non-alcoholic beverages name brands such as Red Bull Energy drinks and Arizona teas. In 2005, the company acquired Saratoga Eagle Sales and Service in Glens Falls.