Celebrations warning for parents

PARENTS are being encouraged by the drinks industry to take a close interest in the celebration plans of thousands of Junior Certificate students getting their results today.

The industry’s social responsibility organisation, MEAS, also called on pubs and off-licences to be vigilant for underage revellers trying to buy drink.

While many alcohol-free discos and other events are being organised to mark the results, thousands of teenagers are likely to use the occasion as an excuse to go drinking.

“Parents are often unsure how to approach the subject of alcohol use with their teenage children and can also be reluctant to discuss the issue with other parents,” said MEAS chief executive Fionnuala Sheahan.

“If Junior Cert students are planning to celebrate their results outside the home, their parents should take a close interest in the evening’s arrangements. They should, for example, plan with other parents to drop off and pick up their children,” she said.

Ms Sheahan said the Government should introduce a more sophisticated, anti-counterfeit, universal ID card which would help publicans, off-licensees and gardaí enforce the law on under-age drinking.

Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) said parents have a responsibility to show their children that their achievements can be celebrated and enjoyed without using alcohol.

“The achievement of teenagers in completing the Junior Cert is something that deserves to be celebrated. However, it is unfortunate that the celebrations have often resulted in harm and upset caused by our tendency to link alcohol to every celebration,” a spokesperson said.

“Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among young people and it is far from the safe drug that many parents think,” she said.

AAI said alcohol use is one of the main causes of death and injury among teenagers and studies of drinking habits among students have reported that Irish young people are among the highest risky drinkers in Europe.

“One of the main deterrents to under-age drinking is having parents who talk to their teens about the dangers of early alcohol use, but quite often parents are not aware of the importance of trying to delay the age at which their children begin to drink,” the AAI spokesperson said.