We used to drive to Johnson City to buy liquor when I was at App. You could buy liquor at 18 in TN.
I had the privilege of being in school at Cullowhee when the drinking age was 18. Still had to drive 7 miles to Sylva to get it. My friends a few years ahead of me when I was there had to drive 25 miles or so to Waynesville to get booze before Jackson Co. went wet.