With the Leaving Cert exams coming to an end, many students will be going on holidays abroad with their friends to unwind.

But should parents be worried about what exactly their children are getting up to?

Niamh Hannon, Chartered Counselling Psychologist at Mindworks.ie, says excessive drinking has become the norm, as has recreational drug use for some, and that going abroad immediately after exams is probably not the best idea.

"To go straight from exams into a flight abroad like that, ideally you would have a week or two to calm down after the exams and let the body recuperate."

"When there's large gangs of people doing that at the same age, it puts people more at risk and there's lots of different safety issues."

Harry McCann, director and founder of the Digital Youth Council, says he "opted for a more cultural experience" and chose to spend the summer in Australia with his brother after his own exams finished, but he knows of others in his age group who have gone on these types of holidays.

"It's exactly what it's painted to be: it's one big drinking session for four or five days. It's probably the first time most people are going away by themselves without their parents."

"A lot of people think it's normal and that everyone does it, but if any of their parents had seen the pictures or videos from these holidays they would be absolutely disgusted, and a lot of people would think twice about sending anybody."

To catch the full chat press the play button on the image on the top of the screen