Greene Turtle Bars To Skip The Straws Starting Wednesday

COLUMBIA, MD — The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille is taking a hint from its own name and going straw free this week. A press release from the restaurant chain says staring May 23, which is World Turtle Day, they are cutting the plastic cord in their effort to help stop the pervasive devastation to marine life.

Diageo, one of the world's biggest alcohol distillers, is applauding the Greene Turtle's efforts by donating $1 of every Naked Turtle Rum bottle sold at Greene Turtles to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, who has been working to save sea turtles since 1959.

Here are some of the Naked Turtle Rum drinks available:

• “Original Blood Orange Hell in the Shell” (Naked Turtle White Rum, Tequila, Gin, Cranberry, Sprite, Blood Orange Sour, Peach Schnapps and New Amsterdam Vodka)
• “Hurricane Hell in the Shell” (Naked Turtle White Rum, Southern Comfort, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Citrus Sour and Grenadine)
• “Light & Stormy” (Naked Turtle White Rum, Bitters and Gosling’s Ginger Beer).

All seven species of sea turtles are considered threatened: three are vulnerable, two are endangered and two are critical. Over 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the U.S., according to National Geographic. That's nearly 200 billion every year.

At Greene Turtle locations, biodegradable straws will be available upon request.

“The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille values protecting marine life,” said Layla Nielsen, Senior Director of Marketing at The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille. “We are excited to do our part by skipping the straw and helping reduce the number of plastic straws in the ecosystem,” she said, according to the press release.

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