Today at the Clinton School of Public Service, former Middlebury College President John McCardell spoke about his latest endeavor “Choose Responsibility” which, according to its mission, “is to promote general public awareness of the dangers of excessive and reckless alcohol consumption by young adults through a program of research, publication, education, and related activities seeking to engage young people, their parents, and public officials in serious deliberation on the role of alcohol in American culture.”

One of the many proposals is to do away with the direct tie between federal appropriations for  highway funds and Legal Age 21, in essence giving the states the freedom to decide whether the lower the drinking age to 18.

McCardell proposes extensive education, certification and provisional licensing which would give 18-20 year olds the ability to purchase, possess and consume alcoholic beverages.

Sturgis Hall was packed with more than 70 attendees.  The crowd reaction was very positive.