The teachers' union, ASTI, is alarmed at the increasing number of pupils turning up for school on Mondays with a hangover.
The question of under-age binge drinking is to form a key part of ASTI president Mr Pat Cahill's presidential address at the union's annual conference next month, it has emerged.
Mr Cahill said yesterday teachers and principals around the country were worried about the rate of student absenteeism due to binge drinking.
"Irish people are not aware of the extent of binge drinking among teenagers, although the effects are being witnessed on a regular basis by teachers and principals around the country," he said.
"(It) is not just an issue for the Department of Education and Science, it is also a matter for the Department of Health, and requires necessary input from that Department."
According to Mr Cahill, last week's revelation that Ireland has, in percentage terms, a higher number of regular drinkers than any other EU nation should be of concern to parents and educators alike. Second-level schools had an important role to play in preventing alcohol abuse, he said, but teachers needed support in tackling the issue.
Schools and teachers were trying to inform and educate pupils on alcohol abuse, through pastoral care initiatives, social and health education, and participation programmes such as the Home-School Liaison and Stay in School schemes, he said. However, more needed to be done on the issue.
"I would say the whole drinks industry will have to be more responsible in their advertising," he said. "I am calling for a programme to be initiated that would increase public knowledge of the issue." He also called for cross-Departmental co-operation to deal with under-age drinking.