The Road Safety Authority (RSA) says questions on drinking and driving will be added to the Driver Theory Test from October.
The new questions will be put to those applying for the motorcycle, car and works vehicles test.
The RSA says this is in direct response to a report issued by the group earlier this year, which showed that drink-driving is still a significant road safety issue - particularly among some young people.
The RSA Pre-Crash Report on Alcohol showed that between 2008 and 2012, alcohol was a factor in 38% of fatal collisions, claiming the lives of 286 people.
Some 43% of drivers killed who had consumed alcohol were between 16 and 24-years-old - and 57% of motorcyclists killed who had consumed alcohol were between 25 and 34-years-old.
The main Driver Theory Test Question Bank will have 17 new questions on alcohol and driving.
Two of these questions will be presented in tests from October 10th, but the overall format of the test will not change.
Transport Minister Shane Ross said: "It's critical that we reinforce key road safety behaviours at every stage of the learning to drive process, from theory to practice.
"The addition of drink-driving as a subject area in the first stage, the Driver Theory Test, will help to remind learner drivers that this behaviour is unsafe, irresponsible and destroys lives."
