Shane Crotty tries out the beer goggles as part of the 'Don't Pour Your Life Away' campaign introduced to the school by Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board and the Gardaí

Junior cert students urged stay safe

As students in schools across County Cavan will receive their Junior Cert results tomorrow (Wednesday), they are being urged to stay safe and not to indulge in alcohol or drugs as part of their celebrations.

Representatives from Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board, Cavan County Council, Youthwork Ireland Monaghan and An Garda Siochána last week came together to pilot the 'Don’t Pour Your Dreams Away’ campaign in secondary schools in Cavan Town. This initiative, which has been running in County Monaghan for the past six years, seeks to remind young people, who will be receiving their exam results today to stay safe. It aims to educate young people about the consequences of indulging in alcohol at a young age and also to positively influence students to celebrate responsibly.
'Stay Safe Packs’ were provided to every student and their parents in the secondary schools in the county town as part of the 'Don’t Pour Your Dreams Away’ campaign, which is part of an initiative by the Education and Prevention Sub Group of the North Eastern Regional Drugs Task Force.

'Socialise safely’
“For many students, going out on the night of the Junior Cert Results, it is their first night out. Our aim is to ensure that they go out equipped with information about how to socialise safely,” says Maureen McIntyre, youth officer with Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board.
She further advises that parents can play an important role in helping their teenagers to stay safe by reminding them of the importance of staying with a group of friends, ensuring they have credit in their phones and by arranging lifts.
“Some young people may be tempted to consume alcohol and we need them to know the full facts so they might make better decisions,” added Jane Crudden of Cavan County Council.

Legal consequences
She also points to the legal consequences including arrest and prosecution if found under the influence in public with possible further consequences affecting one’s career and the ability to get a visa to work abroad in certain countries.
The pilot programme last week saw workshops and presentations delivered across secondary schools by representatives from An Gardaí and Youth Work Ireland Monaghan to raise awareness and distribute information on teen alcohol abuse and safe socialising.
It is hoped that if the campaign has a positive impact that the initiative will be rolled out across all schools in County Cavan next year.
This pilot programme is been funded jointly by Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board and Cavan County Council.