They have clear views on smoking and drinking, but the class of 2003 isunlikely to storm the barricades. First-year students in three Dublin colleges talk about the issues that concern them

The small girl in the blue top laughing nervously at a friend's joke definitely has the look of a first-year college student. So does the pale guy in the jeans sitting alone reading a book over lunch.

However, telling a first-year student from his or her more seasoned colleagues is not as easy as you might think. On more than one occasion the suspect in question visibly bristles at the mere suggestion that they might be newcomers to the college game.

While some students doubtless struggle to adjust to college life, most of the new third-level students this reporter spoke to in Dublin seem to be taking college life in their stride.

Far from the timid young 18 or 19-year-old you might have expected, they are intent on enjoying their new-found freedom, and are making the most of the opportunities offered by the different college societies.

Traditional student societies, such as the philosophical, dramatic and debating "socs" have been joined by ever more quirky groups such as rock nostalgia, ultimate frisbee and war-gaming/roleplaying societies, indicating the wide variety of interests amongst students.

Yet one of the most striking things about some first-year students is their impeccably mature attitude when it comes to alcohol (when talking to The Irish Times, at least).

Conor Devitt (18) from Drumcondra in Dublin is a first-year student of engineering at Trinity College Dublin. "You want to get to a level where you are aware of what you are doing and can have a good night," he says. Sitting in the Buttery restaurant during the busy lunchtime period, he says: "You don't want to go past that - I would say four to five pints is the most I would have in an average night."

His friend, David Long from Rolestown, Co Dublin, agrees with him. "I wouldn't drink much anyway, I wouldn't go over three to four pints in a night. It's too expensive, and I don't drink much."

If this is the extent of the drunken debauchery usually associated with the college years, then times have certainly changed. It used to be said that you know you are getting old when the first-years start looking younger. By all accounts, it seems they are acting it, too.

Saidhbh O'Malley (22) from Leixlip, Co Kildare, is studying Arts in UCD. She believes a figure of eight pints on a night out is a "realistic" one. Her friend Jacqui Hill, fresh from auditioning for a play at the university's Dramsoc, agrees. "Eight pints or the equivalent is realistic," she says, while quickly pointing out that she is speaking in general terms. "Beer or doubles are often the only option, people will drink whatever gets them drunk faster - especially students. There's a lot of stress at college, people need a release. Why shouldn't they is the way I look at it, as long as it is not harming anyone else."

The class of 2003 is not short of opinions on the proposed smoking ban in pubs. Most agree with it in principle, although others do feel it is a bit extreme. Some say students will tend just switch to drinking in people's flats or apartments more.

Geraldine Mc Hugh (19) is a first-year student of Spanish and German at TCD who has joined the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the dance society. As a non-smoker, she believes the proposed smoking ban in pubs is a fair one. "I think it is absolutely wonderful. It's the best thing in years. I'm sick of my clothes stinking of smoke, and my eyes getting all bloodshot. I think the ban is a good thing."

Eamonn Lion (19) from Cabra, Dublin, a first-year business studies student at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), supplements his income by working in a bar part-time.

"When you come out after a night's work, the smell of smoke is unbelievable. Even if you are going out afterwards, you stink. I do think the ban will be hard to put in place, though," he says. "People like to have a pint and a smoke. I'd say there will be less people going to pubs, but for me as a non-smoker, I think it will be great."

With the price of rental accommodation in the city so high, most of the students from Dublin still live at home. Surprisingly, they are happy enough to do so for the time being, having accepted long ago that the added burden of rent is something they can do without, at least for the time being.

"I've no interest in moving out yet," says 18-year-old Luke Doolin from Portmarnock, Co Dublin, a student of business studies at DIT Aungier Street. "I'm only 18, and live near enough to college. . . I'm used to it, you have the rules and I don't mind sticking to them."

There is little sign in this straw poll of the class of 2003 of the fiery politics of their student ancestors. When they feel strongly enough about something, however, they will go out and march, with recent examples being the war in Iraq and the rise in registration fees for students. One even claims, with obvious pride, that she lay down on Dame Street in Dublin to protest at the war in Iraq, which she describes as a "brilliant" idea.

Yet it is hard to escape the impression that politics is something which these first years, just starting out in college, are reluctant to talk about. It is not something you would sit down and have a chat with your friends about in the college bar.

"You get the feeling you can't do anything about it, they are all the same. No matter who you vote for, they all make the same mistakes," one student says.

"Irish politics doesn't interest me at all, it seems to always be the same issues," says Luke Doolin.

"One government is going to be the same as another, there is a choice, but when it comes down to it, it's all the same. When it comes down to it, there are no huge changes going to be made."