Teenagers celebrate Junior Certificate exam results at an alcohol free event in Athlone.
On Junior Certificate results night, hundreds of teenagers flock to an alcohol-free disco at Dubarry Park in Athlone.
The event has been organised by Athlone Drugs Task Force and Gardaí for the past four years. The aim is to provide an environment for young people to socialise in where alcohol is not served, as on occasions like these
The temptation is there to hit the bottle for the first time.
One young man interviewed by RTÉ News says the absence of a bar doesn't make any difference to his evening, as there is
Good music, good craic.
Frankie Keena from Athlone Drugs Task Force says the Department of Justice must support similar projects and
Drive the initiative of alcohol-free entertainment for youngsters.
Not all students in the town attended the disco, and for off licence owner John Croghan the difficulty is in identifying older relatives and friends who buy drink for those who are underage,
It’s an impossible one.
Gardaí had to deal with an alleged assault incident this evening involving adults, but apart from that the streets of Athlone were quiet after the Junior Cert celebration ended.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 September 2004. The reporter is Ciaran Mullooly.
