Driving after consuming alcohol should be an entirely different subject than what is being discussed here.
That being said, 42 states (including Colorado) allow underage alcohol consumption in a private home, private office, or on private property with parental presence and consent.
The academies have their own rules that must be followed (with severe consequences if they are not) but in the majority of the USA, minors are legally allowed to consume alcohol.
Quite correct, but only within strict limits. In Maryland for example, they are allowed to consume *only* at their own homes and only when the parent is actually present and expressly allows it. For example, I can let my DS have a beer in my home but I cannot serve his BR whom he brought home for the holidays. It is a legislative recognition of the political reality that parents want a role in teaching their kids how to drink responsibly. Of course, if the parents serves booze to his children who then go out and get into an accident, the parents can reasonably expect to be defendants in the ensuing law suit. If my kid has a drink at home, he is home for the night.