The 58,000 Junior Cert students receiving their exam results must celebrate in a sensible and responsible way, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin warned today.
They must avoid the "disgraceful" behaviour of previous years, Ms Hanafin said.
Alcohol Action Ireland also cautioned about the dangers of alcohol to the health of growing teenagers.
Ms Hanafin today congratulated exam students but warned: "We have seen some disgraceful behaviour in (Dublin) city centre and in other towns around the country in the past few years, where we have young people congregating in groups and gangs and either through innocence or through alcohol, ending up in trouble.
"So I would strongly urge students to celebrate with their friends in their local home areas and particularly with their families because their families are just as proud as they are of their achievements."
Alcohol Action Ireland spokesperson Sinead Shannon said: "Unfortunately we as a society don't seem to be able to celebrate anything without alcohol, and that attitude is being passed on to our children so they grow up assuming that, in order to have a good time, they must have alcohol.
"For a growing, developing teenager, alcohol can be very harmful to their brains (and) their bodies. It's also a depressant that causes depression as well as the obvious risk that comes with drunkenness."
Teachers, parents and pupils — particularly the 1,300 adults returning to sit the state exams — were congratulated by Ms Hanafin.
"The Junior Certificate marks an important milestone in every student's second-level education," she said. "For most, it represents their first experience of the formal examination process."
Ms Hanafin said the results were generally in keeping with previous years, but it was encouraging to see an increase in numbers taking Higher Level Maths and the improvement in results at lower grade level at Ordinary and Foundation Level Maths.
"I am particularly pleased to see the large number of adults returning to sit subjects in the Junior Certificate given the emphasis that will continue to be placed on developing second-chance education provision," she said.
"Never have there been so many opportunities and choices available to students of all ages and at all levels to develop and enhance learning, build new skills and fulfil individual potential."
Teenagers were also reminded of the importance of choosing science subjects for the Leaving Certificate. "It may seem an early decision but students need to be aware that by choosing science subjects for the Leaving Certificate they are effectively broadening their career opportunities," said Margie McCarthy, of STEPS to engineering.
"Studying science subjects for the Leaving Certificate is of key importance for a career in engineering and technology and opens doors for many other careers, including veterinary, medicine and pharmacy."