Choose Responsibility

Choose Responsibility is a nation-wide nonprofit organization that promotes public awareness of the dangers of excessive and reckless alcohol consumption by young adults through a program of research, publication, education, and related activities. It was founded and is directed by Dr. John M. McCardell, Jr., President emeritus of Middlebury College.

The organization believes that current drinking laws infantilize young adults and promote immature behaviors. Therefore, it promotes public policies that it believes would empower young adults age 18 to 20 to make mature decisions about the place of alcohol in their own lives.

Choose Responsibility promotes a multi-faceted approach that combines education, certification, and provisional licensing (drinking learner permits) for 18-20 year-old high school graduates who choose to consume alcohol. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) actively opposes the organization and its proposals.

Choose Responsibility has proposed a comprehensive program that combines incentives and rewards for responsible, lawful behavior by young people, and punitive measures for illegal, irresponsible behavior.

McCardell and other supporters of drinking learner permits have a national print and electronic press presence.

Extermal links

 * Miller, J. J. The case against 21: Lowering the drinking age, National Review, April, 2007. Available at


 * A sobering proposal. The Chronicle of Higher Education, live discussions, April 5, 2007. Available at


 * Loviglio, J. Binge drinking and the drinking age. City Newspaper (Rochester, NY), May 8, 2007. Available at the Huffington Post


 * Routly, P. All stirred up: A former Vermont college prez is leading a national campaign to lower the drinking age. Seven Days, August 22, 2007. Available at