Choose Responsibility

Choose Responsibility applauds the Vermont state Senate for passing SR 17, a resolution urging Congress to create a waiver to the federal transportation funding penalty attached to the drinking age so that interested states have the flexibility to explore alternatives to Legal Age 21. SR 17’s passage represents a milestone in the nationwide movement to rethink the 21 year-old drinking age, and Choose Responsibility looks forward to bringing this important conversation to other states.

“SR 17 clearly states that ‘federal funding penalties prevent an open public debate about the effects of the drinking age….’ Vermont would have preferred to keep its drinking age at 18. Senator Leahy in 1984 opposed raising the age. But federal coercion forced the state to change or face a reduction in highway funding,” said Choose Responsibility President John McCardell.

“The passage of SR 17 is an act of courage and leadership. It signals the Vermont Senate’s desire to explore comprehensive, realistic new solutions to the problem of toxic binge drinking, solutions that may in time become best practices not only in Vermont but in other states.”

S.R. 17: Senate resolution relating to problems associated with underage consumption of alcohol.

Whereas, in some instances, Congress imposes funding penalties on states that effectively create federal mandates not provided for in the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution, and

Whereas, federal funding penalties prevent an open public debate about the effects of the drinking age as it affects unlawful, unsupervised consumption of alcohol, and

Whereas, given the constitutional authority of states to regulate alcohol within their borders, Congress should work with the states to find solutions to address the growing problem of unsupervised, underage consumption and overconsumption of alcohol, and

Whereas, each state has unique qualities and residents that make a one-size-fits-all solution difficult and each state should have the opportunity to develop a comprehensive program that addresses its unique situation, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate of the State of Vermont urges Congress to authorize the states to address the problems associated with underage consumption of alcohol by obtaining waivers from federal law to avoid triggering federal funding penalties, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Vermont congressional delegation.