First, religious reason waives the drinking age (though not the purchasing age). Second, the chiyuv to lose inhibition starts at the age of thirteen for boys and twelve for girls (yes girls are michuyav in ad dilo yodah also). Third, one can be yotze ad dilo yodah just by drinking (slightly) more than what one usually does. Fourth, the halacha says NOTHING about drinking irresponsibly and to no end. Yes there are those opinions to “get smashed” but there is a difference between drinking to inebriation and drinking to no end and irresponsibly.
Do I drink and am under 21? Yes. Do/would I drink to the point where I would (barely) have minimal control? Yes. Would I make sure to prepare things so that when I don’t have control it could still be taken care of (like making sure I drink water and eat foods that would help counter the “bad” effects of alchohol)? Absolutely and that is always first on my list even before I get wine (and ONLY wine as that is what the mitzvah is with-look in the megillah and perushim if you don’t believe me)
So yes it bothers me too
😀 Zuberman! 😀