Alcohol Action Ireland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, congratulated the country’s 59,000 Leaving Cert students but reminded them in the run-up to celebrations that they have a choice about whether to drink and if they do drink to remember - there can be a high cost for cheap alcohol.
Charity Director Fiona Ryan said: “The Leaving Cert can be a very emotional time for those getting results. We would encourage parents to ask their teens how they’re feeling about their results. Even students getting good results can sometimes experience a sense of anti-climax. Adding alcohol into an emotional mix can make it very difficult for young people to cope - alcohol increases emotional volatility and impacts on someone’s ability to make decisions.”
Ms Ryan highlighted the dangers of cut-price alcohol with cans of beer being sold for as little as 66c each and bottles of vodka retailing for less than €12, particularly in the context of “pre-loading” and house parties. The appeal comes after new figures from the Central Statistics Office reveal that alcohol prices in Ireland have fallen by 4.6 per cent over the past twelve months.