 "Photo: Katie Khouri")
Imagine going to a bar at the age of 18 and legally getting served alcohol throughout the night.
Sounds far fetched?
Currently, a former university president and professor in Vermont is leading a national campaign for legislation that could make that particular scenario a possibility.
John M. McCardell, who served as Middlebury College's president from 1991 through 2004, recently stepped down to return to teaching at the college and run a campaign headed by the not-for-profit organization Choose Responsibility to lower the state's minimum drinking age to 18.
"The purpose (of this organization) is to engage the public in this debate," McCardell said.
The debate, McCardell said he believes, is how society can consider an 18-year-old person adult, yet still set restrictions on their lives.
"Lowering the drinking age to 18 is a good idea," PSUC junior Terri-Ann Venezia said. "There are plenty of 18-to-20 year olds out there who have a higher maturity level and a more responsible lifestyle than plenty of 25-year-olds."
Eighteen-year-olds can be sent to war, compose a jury, vote for the country's leaders, and buy a gun, but cannot legally drink until they're 21.
"I find that inconsistent and hard to justify," McCardell said. "They say that we don't have a national drinking age, but we really do."
McCardell said this is because federal funding is withheld from any state with a drinking age under 21.
Congress would have to remove the national minimum drinking age statute imposed on federal highway programs before any states act to lower the minimum age requirement because that funding is essential.
Vermont would lose about $17 million in highway funding if they dropped their legal age before Congress modifies the law.
"Most states won't do anything to change because of this," McCardell said.
Choose Responsibility, a group funded by the Robertson Group after McCardell had an op-ed published in the New York Times, is attempting to reach the entire nation with their debate.
According to McCardell, with only three paid personnel and a little office, the organization is small right now, but "has the force of argument" on their side.
They also hope to have their Web site up within the next month.
"We lack the profile of those who oppose us," McCardell said. "And it's tough because there are a lot of strong feelings on this issue."
McCardell's plan is based around the idea of alcohol education programs that can help adults act responsible when using alcohol or dealing with people under the influence.
Upon completion of the program, an 18-year-old would receive a license to legally purchase, consume and possess alcohol in the state they reside in, as well as where they attend college, if it is out of state.
"Legal age 21 has produced unforeseen consequences like binge drinking and underground consumption," McCardell said. "Consumption should be above-ground."
"It also marginalizes parents," he said of the fact that he cannot legally give his 19-year-old son a beer in the privacy of his own home.
McCardell and his student research team believe the key to alcohol problems is how one consumes alcohol rather than the age of consumption, he said. The program he backs would educate people on how to - or not to - consume alcohol responsibly.
"A lot of college presidents have pondered this question," McCardell said. "But it's tough to do during office."
According to McCardell, Middlebury still has him employed as a professor, but he is only teaching one class so he can place major focus on his Choose Responsibility campaign.
In 2001, McCardell was named "Vermonter of the Year" by the Burlington Free Press.
Be the first to comment on this article!