My state had a 18 year drinking age when I was that age...but has since succumbed to the standard 21 years of age.
I worked in the local hospital at age 17 in the evenings after college classes. I wore the white uniform of the place....and after work I went to the local bar and being I had the uniform I was served. I do believe the statute of limitation are up on that crime though.
In Illinois it used to be 19 for beer and wine, 21 for the hard stuff. They raised it in 1980, I believe, effective January 1. A friend of mine turned 19 on December 27 of 79 and had four days to legally drink, then had to wait two more years. On New Years Eve he went to a liquor store and they guy just laughed when he saw his ID, saying "Man, they sure screwed you."