Irish Schools to Introduce Nationwide Confirmation Pledge Against Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking, and Vaping
Dublin: From next academic year, students in Irish schools will be invited to take a renewed Confirmation Pledge committing to abstain from alcohol, drugs, smoking, and vaping until adulthood. This initiative, developed by the Irish Bishops’ Drugs and Alcohol Initiative in partnership with the Catholic Primary School Management Association, will be implemented through a newly launched online module available to schools across the country.
With 95% of schools in Ireland under Catholic management, the Church’s influence in educational settings remains significant. The initiative, tied to the long-standing tradition of First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies, aims to reinforce values of self-discipline and healthy living during a formative period in young people’s lives.
The new pledge campaign is being launched in memory of Venerable Matt Talbot, the Dublin-born layman known as the “Apostle of Hope” for his deep spirituality and personal journey of recovery from alcohol addiction. The Church said that including vaping in the updated pledge reflects a contemporary understanding of health risks, while honouring Talbot’s legacy of spiritual renewal and abstinence.
Traditionally, Irish children making their Confirmation around age 12 would vow to remain alcohol-free until 18—a practice rooted in the Church’s efforts to encourage moral integrity and resilience against addiction. This new digital module strengthens that tradition and provides structured educational support for schools.
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