A rite of passage - Celebrate sensibly

Today nearly 60,000 young people will get Junior Certificate results.

This rite of passage is probably as good a dividing line between childhood and the responsibilities that come with maturity that this society offers.

Unfortunately this society does not give good example to these young people around alcohol misuse so any warning about celebrating exam results by drinking may seem hypocritical. That may be the case but they are still warranted. It is, after all, illegal to sell alcohol to minors though most teenagers seem to have no difficulty in getting drink. As we have seen already this week the consequences of drug misuse can be lethal; the same applies to alcohol.