STUDENTS at the University of Limerick are spending more time in the pub on campus because of a ban on smoking in the college buildings.
And the students and administrative staff have "smoke coming out their ears" as the ban does not apply to lecturers in their offices.
The students argue that if staff are allowed to smoke in their offices, they should be allowed to do likewise somewhere other than the pub.
The administrative staff are also disgruntled as they also have to go outside on to the campus grounds to smoke. This has led to another problem. The university authorities have provided special litter bins, but cigarette ends are a familiar sight littering the pavements.
The smouldering anti smoking issue, which has led to smoke free corridors and canteens, has apparently driven the students to drink.
The Students Union magazine, An Focal, bemoaning the new "draconian" rules, points out that the canteens have been fairly empty and the Stables pub quite full during the day.
The students union claims a majority of students in the university smoke and are being discriminated against. The students stress that they are not asking that the university encourage smoking, "but smokers, are citizens and have rights".
One smoking area in the main building is not a lot to ask, argue the students.
There was no comment available from the university yesterday.