Vermont Lawmakers Raise State Drinking Age to 21

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In 1986, the Vermont Senate voted to raise the state's legal drinking age from 18 to 21 years old. The narrow 16-14 vote came after opponents bristled at a federal threat to withhold transportation funding if Vermont did not align its drinking age with the rest of the Northeast. Supporters argued that the combination of young drivers and alcohol was a public safety concern.

Why it matters

Vermont was the last state in the Northeast to raise its drinking age to 21, following a nationwide trend driven by federal pressure and concerns about drunk driving accidents involving young adults. The change brought Vermont in line with the rest of the region and the majority of states, which had already raised their drinking ages to 21.

The details

The Vermont Senate debated the bill to raise the drinking age on January 30, 1986. Opponents argued against the federal threat to withhold transportation funding if the state did not make the change, while supporters cited public safety as the primary reason for raising the age limit. The bill ultimately passed by a narrow 16-14 margin.

• The Vermont Senate took up the debate to raise the age from 18 to 21 on January 30, 1986.
• The bill passed the Vermont Senate by a 16-14 vote on January 30, 1986.

What’s next

Vermont's new 21-year-old drinking age law went into effect shortly after the Senate vote.