Essentially yes, I have seen no evidence in my entire life that underage drinking laws save lives or reduce the abuse of alcohol, especially because of how car dependent the US is the only places underage kids can drink they have to drive to and then there are no responsible adults wherever that is which just makes it all WAY more dangerous. It also makes it so most kids introduction to alcohol is through hard liquor because it is way easier to hide and move around.

It wasn't super uncommon for people from my hometown to die in drunk driving crashes and it is no mystery why to me.