Our teenage drinkers: Teenagers tell Kate Holmquist why drinking is at the centre of many celebrations as the Junior Cert results come out today
Parents who want their children to observe the law face an ongoing barrage of peer, social and advertising pressures on teens to drink. They may feel setting limits is futile and that "at least it's not drugs", forgetting that alcohol is a potent drug.
"Parents feel powerless and take the attitude that their children will drink anyway, no matter what they say. I don't think parents should downgrade their expectations," says Dr Bobby Smyth, child and adolescent psychiatrist specialising in addiction.
"Parents often don't realise how powerful their expectations and rules are. Parents should stick to their values, even if it seems likely that their children will break them. Adolescents listen to their parents, even if they don't appear to, and need to have the parent's voice always in the background," agrees Dr Conor Farren, child and adolescent psychiatrist in addiction.
"It's not enough to just say no," advises Dr Smyth. "Parents should be sophisticated, explaining why it is not in the child's interest to drink - if, that is, the parents truly believe that. If the parents believe that the child should be allowed to drink with parental supervision only, then they should explain why it is not in their child's interests to get drunk." Parents who are heavy drinkers may deny the reality of what's going on. As one Garda spokesman put it, "If we find a young person drunk in the street, we'll bring him or her home to their parents, but too often, the parents are out in the pub."
Parents who allow under-18 children and friends to drink in their house should realise they need the explicit consent of the other children's parents - otherwise under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, they could be breaking the law.
Jack (15), Cork: "I'm going to a house party. I'll have a beer or two and my parents won't approve, but as long as I'm not falling in the door it's OK. I have friends who are going to get drunk, but they're the ones who get drunk a lot and they're in the minority. I think I deserve to drink a little this weekend too, but not a lot. I prefer a house party to doing uptown, even though it's easy to get into clubs. They don't ID everyone. I think drink is too widely available for teens and I feel uncomfortable with the way all adults think that all teens are the same. I think AA should send younger alcoholics into classrooms to talk honestly about their experiences. I heard a former drug addict talk in school once and it was really effective."
Jenny (15), Dublin (She will celebrate her Junior Cert results at Scream, an alcohol-free disco at The Point): "I don't drink any more. I had my first drink at 14 on holidays with the family. For a while, my friends and I got drink from off-licences. A few months ago I had a bad experience and realised that drinking is stupid - I didn't need it to have fun. Some of my friends drink and some don't, so I just said to myself, 'why do I need to be one of the ones that drink?' I think non-drinkers have to be very strong-willed and determined. My parents have made me promise not to drink any more and I'm relieved that they have. I'll wait until I'm 17 or 18. There should be more alcohol-free facilities for my age. There's nothing to do where I live. People drink because they're bored."
Laura (16), Dublin: "I drink a naggin of vodka about once a month if I'm going out or to a party, but not in fields or anything like that. I was drunk once and it ruined my whole night. Tonight I'm going to Wez [ Wesley Rugby Club] and will be drinking before that. There's a big drink problem in Ireland because people go out to get drunk instead of just drinking in a social way like they do in France and places. With my friends, it's cool if you don't want to drink."
Mark (16), Dublin: "I drink about once a month - seven or eight bottles of Miller. I've never been seriously drunk, never had a bad experience, but one of my friends had to go to hospital once. For Junior night I'm probably going to the Ivy in town, but I'm not sure yet. If I do I won't be drinking 'cos you could get beaten up or anything if you were drunk in town. But if I'm not going there then I'll probably be drinking. There's a drinking problem in Ireland 'cos everyone goes out to get drunk and people don't know where to stop and they get violent."
Keith (16), Dublin: "I drink about once every two weeks - around a naggin and a half each time. I've been drunk, but never had a bad experience. But my friends have, getting sick all over the place all night. I dunno why I drink. It's a social thing, it's fun. And I'm more fun and have more confidence when I'm drinking. Tonight I'm going to Wez with my friends. My friends will buy alcohol with fake IDs. My friends who don't drink are less fun and kind of stand on the sidelines a lot more."
Paul (15), Dublin: "I go drinking about once a month and usually drink a litre of vodka, 'cos it's fun. I don't get drunk, but some of my friends would be getting sick all night sometimes. My friends who don't drink tend to be less fun. Tonight I'm going out somewhere [ outdoors]. Older people will get [ the drink] in the off-licence for us."
Niall (16), Dublin: "Every two weeks at least, I'd drink about eight cans. I've been seriously drunk and some of my friends have gotten arrested. Tonight I'm going drinking and then to Wez. My friends get drink with fake IDs. There's a problem with underage drinking in Ireland but I don't think there is a solution. All my friends drink."
Chloe (16), Cork (who did her Junior Cert two years ago): "When I was about 12, I was getting a lot of hints that it was time I started drinking, with older friends telling me how to get it. When I was younger, I drank outdoors, now it's more in free houses when people's parents have gone away. There's a real double-standard. You have to act like an adult at 16 and you have certain rights, but you can't drink until you're 18 so from the ages of 16 to 18 you're in limbo. I think the age should be lowered to 16 in pubs, otherwise alcohol is 'forbidden fruit'.
If 16-year-olds could drink openly in pubs, there would be less lying and getting into trouble. I know people who didn't drink until they were 18 and the second they did they got really, really drunk because they were not used to it. In most cases, 16-year-olds who are allowed by their parents to drink are more responsible in their attitudes to drink and know how to handle it. My own parents frown on drinking - major, like. If they knew I was drinking they'd probably ground me for four years."
Martin (16), Galway (who celebrated his Junior Cert last year with alcohol bought in the "offies" by older siblings): "I drink rarely. My parents have not told me not to drink, but I think they would disapprove. At least I hope they would. My parents are satisfied as long as I'm not falling in the door. I think parents are not asking the right questions. Most parents don't check up when their kids say 'I'm going to a friend's house'.
"You see 13- and 14-year-olds downtown with bags and their parents would want to cop on. I have no problem with drinking from age 16 onwards, because I'm mature enough. Some younger ones would be putting on an act because they want to be seen to be drunk. Others go out intentionally to get drunk.
"In my community, there are no facilities for teens so I think drinking to get drunk will continue until there are other options.
"If you're into GAA you're less likely to drink, but if - like me - you're non-GAA, there's nothing for you socially. The only place to go and sit and talk is the library. Coffee shops are too expensive. We need someplace casual and affordable where you're not afraid to go inside."
• Old Wesley Rugby Football Club has a strict and vigilantly enforced no-alcohol policy at its junior discos. Bags and demeanour will be checked. Anyone arriving with alcohol on board will be detained and held until their parents come to collect them, a spokesman says.
• Names have been changed to protect the teenagers' identity. Series concluded.
