Parents are urged to be vigilant.
Drinkaware says it's had reports of "Longitude house parties" being organised for this weekend.
The Dublin festival was due to get under way today but was cancelled because of the pandemic.
In response, the national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland, is urging parents to stay vigilant and caution their teenagers against attending them or any such events in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Acts such as Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, AJ Tracey and A$AP Rocky were just some of the stars set to perform this weekend (3-5 July), but it was cancelled in April following the government’s decision to ban all events exceeding a capacity of 5000 people.
''We encourage parents to speak openly with their children.''
Drinkaware CEO, Sheena Horgan, said: “As we’re hearing about potential ‘Longitude house parties’ taking place this weekend, we urge parents to stay vigilant and if they hear about an event, to caution against attending and share the information with other parents so they can make informed decisions.
“Teenagers and younger people have experienced an unsettled time of late, particularly those in state exam years. This has led to a rise in stress and anxiety. At 82%, our data clearly tells us that 18-24-year-olds overwhelmingly associated drinking with being social. So, there is a concern that some may see easing restrictions as a time to gather among friends in large groups to reconnect and that alcohol misuse may occur.
“Young people have to date played their part in slowing the spread of Covid-19 in our communities by doing something that feels unusual and against natural instincts to socialise. But now really isn’t the time to reverse all the sacrifice made over the past three months.
“We encourage parents to speak openly with their children to find out if they have been invited to a house party or large gathering and discuss the reasons why now is the time to hold firm. Let’s stay the course, follow HSE guidance and look forward to the day when we can come together safely.”
