With the Junior Cert results due out soon, it’s natural to feel a little anxious about how your teenager will celebrate. Here, Sheila O’Malley from Practical Parenting shares practical, judgement-free tips for parents on helping your teenager celebrate their Junior Cert results safely, so the whole family can enjoy the milestone.
In the lead-up to results night, underage drinking is often back in the news. Excess alcohol raises the risk of accidents, injury and poor decision-making, and can take a real toll on a teenager’s wellbeing. It’s a conversation worth having early, calmly, and more than once.
One parent shared that her daughter’s friends weren’t keen to go out on results night at all, because it usually meant “taking care” of someone who’d had too much to drink. She wondered aloud why more schools didn’t organise something else instead — an overnight trip away, a hike in Glendalough, a stay in a youth hostel with classmates and teachers. Some schools do exactly this, and it’s worth asking your child’s school what, if anything, they have planned.
Recommended Reading: Advice for Parents on Teen Drinking
What Can You Do As a Parent?
Helping your teenager to say no
Teens who get into trouble on nights like this often say afterwards that it was hard to say no once the peer pressure built up beforehand.
Your Junior Cert student may be quietly looking for an excuse to say no — or for you to offer an appealing alternative. Results night is really about celebrating your son or daughter’s achievements, and a family meal out can be a genuine alternative to a big night out.
Is there something else they’d enjoy doing instead? This might be the moment to suggest it.
Talk openly about alcohol and set clear rules
Many parents don’t realise how much alcohol is accessible in their own home, so it’s worth being mindful that you’re not the one supplying the first drink. Spirits are sometimes mixed into soft drinks and carried in handbags, so it helps to know what to look out for. If there’s a family history of alcoholism, your teen may be at greater risk, which is worth factoring into the conversation.
Research from Drinkaware has consistently found that parents are the single biggest influence on their teenager’s decisions around alcohol — more than friends, more than anything else. Most Junior Cert students say they want to know how to stay safe on a night out. Your opinion carries more weight than you might think.
- Talk to older siblings and make sure they won’t buy alcohol for a younger teen.
- Be clear and honest about how you feel about the night — your values and attitudes matter more to your child than you may realise.
- Agree the rules around alcohol together, and be clear about the consequences if they’re broken.
- Explain the real risks of drinking at a young age, in plain terms.
- Model the behaviour you want to see — set a good example around alcohol yourself.
Recommended Reading: 20 Important Things To Tell Your Teenager
If they’re going to a disco or party
Check that the event is age-appropriate for your teenager. Some younger teens try to use false ID to get into over-18 venues — worth being aware of.
Popular events can sell out or turn away teens without a pre-booked ticket, and a lot of trouble on results night comes from teens left with nowhere to go and no plan.
Drop your teen as close to the venue as possible at the agreed start time, and collect them when it ends. Be clear about these arrangements in advance, and about what happens if they’re not stuck to.
Talk to the other parents
A quick conversation with other parents can save a lot of confusion. Every teen says “everyone else is allowed” — until you check and find out that isn’t quite true.
Comparing notes with other parents helps you both agree on sensible, consistent arrangements.
Keep an eye on what they’re bringing out
It’s worth not sending your teen out with more money than they need, since spare cash can end up buying alcohol.
It’s also worth being aware that small bottles — mouthwash, perfume, and similar — are sometimes used to mask the smell of alcohol.
Build their confidence and self-esteem
Teenagers with strong self-esteem are generally less likely to turn to alcohol or other risky behaviour to cope or fit in. Sport, clubs and other activities that keep them busy also help build a stronger sense of who they are.
Encourage your teenager to make good, informed choices for themselves, rather than simply telling them what to do.
Keeping your teenager safe on the night
Before your teen heads out, spend a little time with them. It’s still not too late to offer an alternative if you sense they’d rather not go.
Let them know, clearly and without judgement, that if they want to come home early at any point in the night, you’ll come and collect them — no questions asked in the moment.
Resources
- Sheila O’Malley of Practical Parenting offers support and training for parents, including talks and programmes on family wellbeing.
- Drinkaware.ie has further guidance for parents on talking to teens about alcohol.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age do most Irish teenagers celebrate their Junior Cert results?
Junior Cert students are typically 14 to 16 years old, so results night often marks one of the first times many parents navigate a bigger night out with their teenager.
Should I let my teenager go to a disco on results night?
That’s a personal decision for every family. If you do agree to it, check the event is age-appropriate, confirm a pre-booked ticket, and agree clear drop-off and collection times in advance.
How do I start a conversation about alcohol with my teenager?
Keep it calm, honest and ongoing rather than a single big talk. Share your own values clearly, agree ground rules together, and let them know they can always call you, no matter what.
What if my teenager wants to come home early?
Make sure they know, before they go out, that you’ll collect them any time they want to come home — with no lecture waiting at the door. Removing that fear makes it much more likely they’ll actually call you if they need to.
Related Articles
- Advice for Parents on Teen Drinking
- 20 Important Things To Tell Your Teenager
- Supporting Your Teen Through Exam Stress
Before Results Night, Save These Tips
Bookmark this article or share it with another parent before results night — a quick chat about the plan for the evening can make all the difference.
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