Gov. Madeleine M. Kunin of Vermont has signed into law a provision that raises the state’s drinking age from 18 to 21. The other states in the Northeast have already made that move.
The provision goes into effect on July 1. Under the law, those who are already 18 or who reach the age of 18 before July can continue to purchase alcoholic beverages, according to Robert S. Sherman, executive assistant to the Governor.
Last year, the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, of which Vermont is a member, approved a resolution to establish a uniform regional drinking age of 21 by June 1, 1985, or as soon thereafter as was practical. (See Education Week, Feb. 6, 1985.)
Under federal law, states that do not raise their minimum drinking age could lose federal highway funds.
The intent of the governors’ resolution was to comply with the federal mandate and to decrease traffic fatalities that are caused by underage youths crossing state borders to purchase alcohol in states with lower drinking ages.
