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21% of Irish students aren't having sex, 70% don't smoke and 10% don't drink

The latest nationwide survey on students found that most rely on their family to support them financially.

MOST STUDENTS DON’T smoke, 1 in 5 say they’re not sexually active and 1 in 10 don’t take a drink.

That’s according to the National Student Survey of 4,583 students conducted by Campus.ie which was published today.

It found that 70% of students are not regular smokers and that 15% smoke socially.

The survey showed that over half of students say they only drink between 1-6 drinks a week, with 10% saying that they don’t drink at all.

Of those who do drink, 80% say they drink under the weekly maximum recommended by the HSE.

The majority of students surveyed (59%) said they only go out to a nightclub, bar or house party once a week – with 23% saying they don’t go out to these events at all.

In terms of drug use, 58% of students say they have never taken drugs, 30% say they have tried marijuana and 7% tried ecstasy.

drugs Student Survey Student Survey

When it comes to sex – 21% say they are not sexually active, with 22% saying they have had only one sexual partner.

A third of those questioned said they’ve had between two and five sexual partners.

Seventy-five per cent of those who are sexually active are using contraceptives:

  • condoms (48%)
  • the contraceptive pill (24%)
  • or the contraceptive implant (3%).

However 3% admitted that they do not use contraception.

Cold hard cash

The survey estimates that the average cost of a student for the nine months of college is approximately €8,283.76.

The research revealed that many students are relying on their parents for money.

  • 39% depend on their family to support them
  • 25% said they have a grant
  • 18% said they to work – the average hours being 12.6 a week.

However it also found that under 18% of students don’t have any type of loan.

loan student survey student survey

The survey also found that 74% of students said they were not in debt while just 5% had debt over €5,000.

debt Student Survey Student Survey

When asked if they planned to emigrate after graduation, 50% of students said maybe while 26% said yes. Only 22% said no.

emigrate Student Survey Student Survey

Read: ‘Discover University’ projects give teens a window into tech and enterprise>

Read: Sober Ireland: What’s it like to not drink in Ireland?>

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59 Comments
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    Mute 3monkey
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:57 PM

    And finally ” 97 % of students say they lie frequently “

    689
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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:00 PM

    Theres a fifty percent chance that statement is true and theres only a 10% chance of that.

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    Mute gary banner
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:29 PM

    @ 3 monkey ….. I disagrees profoundly , ina separate survey carried out by males found that 1 in 5 is in a relationship presumably having sex , 20%, 4 in 5 have access to a computer hence porn sites , so 80 % nightly arc parties with Pam & her five friends :-).

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:43 PM

    Anything to rex banner?

    19
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    Mute Irving Chubbie
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:03 PM

    132% of Irish students are full of shite.

    97
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    Mute Ron North
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:05 PM

    It was a confidential, voluntary, online survey. I’m not sure whether it was 100% anonymous or not, as far as I remember you only had to give your age, gender, college, course and year. There is no reason why anyone would lie on it.

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    Mute Irving Chubbie
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:39 PM

    For the crack. 267% of me believes that.

    35
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    Mute Anthony Carroll
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 5:11 AM

    But 33% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

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    Mute Joe_King
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:56 PM

    You got to feel sorry for the ones staying at home and not having sex. Would they not wait until they get married to do that?

    471
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    Mute Ron North
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:05 PM

    There are lots of mature students in college who will have filled out this survey, the ones staying home and not having sex probably are the married ones.

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:57 PM

    This may be a side issue but the author of this article is pretty hot.

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    Mute Joe_King
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:02 PM

    Yates – Agreed, but Orla wins the Journal hotness competition.

    38
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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:04 PM

    Now joe we may be being sexist. Of course they all have lovely bottoms.

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    Mute Anthony Carroll
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 5:12 AM

    And who do you think she’ll be bringing for dinner?

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:49 PM

    79% of students are having sex
    90% drink alcohol
    And 30% smoke

    258
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    Mute gary banner
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:32 PM

    @ J Dunn …. 79% of female students could have sex if they wanted ,79 % of males would have sex if they could ! ….

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    Mute Senor Donovan
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:56 PM

    I’d like to see a Venn diagram of the intersection between the group who don’t have sex and don’t drink. I know I wouldn’t have had much sex in college if it weren’t for drunkren nights out!

    161
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    Mute Ron North
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:19 PM

    Students who don’t have sex -> O <- Students who don't drink.

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    Mute Fognostical
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:47 PM

    They are either lying or dead boring.

    101
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:16 PM

    But there is 101% of them. ” scratches head” some of them are really bad at maths. I bet its not the ones that done smoke, drink or have sex.

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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:13 PM

    Does that mean if I go back to college there is a 79% chance of getting sex? Can you include the age demographic and expected timeline for the sex to happen?

    96
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    Mute Barney Rubble
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:15 PM

    Doubt it

    32
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    Mute Joe_King
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:52 PM

    Most students don’t smoke. Only the cool ones do

    91
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    Mute KentuckyWindage
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:37 PM

    I’m a 41 yr old smoker, and I HATE seeing young people smoking.
    It’s an idiotic habit, and to see kids in school uniforms smoking kills me.

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    Mute Aaron B
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:56 PM

    So give up smoking then

    53
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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:58 PM

    You should not be hanging around outside schools kinda creepy.

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    Mute KentuckyWindage
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:20 PM

    How would kicking stop me hating seeing young people with their whole lives ahead of them paying for the privilege of dying?
    I’m an idiot, they’re young.
    I’m really glad to see that it’s nothing like as widespread as it was.
    Maybe it’s the rarity of seeing a young person smoking these days?

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    Mute KentuckyWindage
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:22 PM

    Yeah, I should.
    The Gards are doin the auld eyeball bit in the afternoons now. I must pack it in.

    24
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    Mute Aaron B
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:05 PM

    Im not saying you stopping will stop kids from smoking, you said its an idiotic habit and you obviously hate it, so try give up and give yourself a better chance of not getting terminally ill from it

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    Mute alwaysrightokay
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:57 PM

    Cant believe only 30% have tried hash

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    Mute Sergeant Yates
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:01 PM

    Cant believe its not butter.

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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:02 PM

    And the 58% who’ve had nothing? Students Unions need to start handing out baggies like they do with the condoms

    32
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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:05 PM

    Only 48% using condoms. The STI clinics will be busy.

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    Mute Vincent F
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:19 PM

    Looking at that stat could be 50% male/female therefore 48% of pool of 50% is high usage. Stats can seen any way you want them.

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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:11 PM

    95% have sex and smoke and then get so drunk they forgot about it.

    61
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    Mute john williams
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:42 PM

    Can’t believe that there is still 30% brain dead enough to be smoking! I have sympathy for older generations as they took up smoking when there was ads saying it was cool and good but young people who smoke nowadays are disgusting!

    51
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    Mute Sarah Hill
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:55 PM

    One thing I wish I never started was smoking! Worst decision of my life! And soooo hard to quit !!

    48
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    Mute Michele Savage
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 6:59 PM

    And how many are actually studying?!

    44
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    Mute Ron North
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:08 PM

    100% of the students who make it past first year are actually studying.

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    Mute Michele Savage
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:37 PM

    Either that or they’re geniuses?

    11
    tom
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    Mute tom
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:41 PM

    75% of Irish students claim to be good at maths and the other 35% don’t.

    35
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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:28 PM

    When I was a student I went camping a lot … the sex was really intents.

    33
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    Mute sinlacasa
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:39 PM

    I only smoke and drink to make up for the lack of sex

    31
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    Mute Peter Lavelle
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:33 PM

    And 100% of the 21% that are not having sex are too busy doing surveys

    27
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    Mute Cornelius Collins
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:05 PM

    Students? are these primary school students being interviewed? If your not ticking a few of them off your list in college you should be given an automatic fail.

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    Mute TOP CAT
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:18 PM

    What about the students who go out on the batter,and enjoy a cigarette after getting laid????….

    19
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:14 PM

    Speaking as a mature student, what a boring predictable bunch we are!

    16
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    Mute Ollie
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 9:33 PM

    I know smoking in general is idiotic (I’m a smoker, yes) but people who are just social smokers really annoy me. Why would you do it if you’re not addicted! I admit I first started smoking when I was in school to be ‘cool’ but I was 12, these people are in their 20s and over. It’s not cool

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    Mute Claire W
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 12:36 PM

    Very good point. Studies have shown that most smokers start out as social smokers.
    Don’t social smoke and think its OK, It still makes you a smoker. Your just not doing it very frequently…yet

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    Drew
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    Mute Drew
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 5:43 AM

    Of of those 21% how many of them aren’t sexually active of their own choice?

    Can’t get laid is a whole other ball game statisticians

    7
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    Mute Claire W
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 12:34 PM

    I think theres some misinformation. They say 21% aren’t having sex. But then say the survey said sexually active. So do they mean have never had sex, or just aren’t doing it regularly right now? Did the students filling in the survey know the difference?

    Also I’m kind of annoyed that even once their probably 18+ we’re still praising them for not having sex like its something bad. Listing it as dangerous and unhealthy along with smoking and excess drinking?

    7
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    Mute stevy o neill
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:43 PM

    I’d say that survey was done in the morning after the coppers crush! Absolute b***shit! 0.73% said that they took coke! Hahaha

    7
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    Mute Gerry McCormack
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 8:41 PM

    They were are suffering from hangovers and well shagged when they did the survey. Just as well they didn’t ask how many of them do enough study. I’m on yen middle of my second Phd and don’t have time to fart

    7
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    Mute Terence Dunne
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 7:54 PM

    52% are liars

    7
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    Mute Dara Daly
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 7:44 AM

    *based on an interview with 2 students.

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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 12:58 AM

    In descending order ;
    Drink, Sex and a Smoke …
    that’s how I seem to remember college ….
    oh hang on …. Smoke, laugh , sleep ….
    The country is going down the tubes ! ……. Bring back the Pope to Ballybrit fast !

    2
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    Mute Caroline Marie
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 2:59 PM

    Today’s society is ultra right wing Tory Conservative. So all these students are branded as saints.Result: there is violence on our streets every single day.

    1
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    Mute Patrick Savage
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    Jul 2nd 2014, 10:16 PM

    They just don’t want tossy what the student loan goes to.

    1
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    Mute Edmund Dantes
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    Jul 3rd 2014, 12:07 PM

    Can I volunteer my services to the 21% who aren’t having sex ?

    1
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