Research Paper Draft 1

Introduction

The number of cigarette smokers in the US has been steadily decreasing since 2001. (Markowitz) Despite the constant decrease of smokers, there are still 967 million people who smoke everyday and 5 to 6 million people who die worldwide from smoking. (Chen, Roberts) This deadly habit is a problem that society still faces today from many perspectives. One of the entities that are at loss due to smokers is the hospitality industry. Hotels don’t have specific procedures on how to detect if clients have smoked in their rooms. This leaves many hotels unable to charge clients who violate the non-smoking policy. Even when there is noticeable smoke smell clients can blame it on the previous occupants. If a room has absorbed the smell of smoke the cost for hotels to do deep cleaning is very high. (Nassauer)

Hypothesis

Hotels will install smoke detectors in each room in order to accuse and fine clients if they have violated the non-smoking policy.

Research Questions

Are hotels willing to buy and install new smoke sensors in every room in order to detect if clients smoke in the rooms? What types of smoke should the detector sense? (Tobacco, vapor, marijuana) Will frequent fines to clients who smoke in rooms help them quit smoking in hotel rooms or smoking as a whole?

In order to permit the hospitality industry to prosecute clients who violate the non-smoking policies, unobtrusive smoke detectors can be installed on the curtains near the windows in the rooms. The sensor will be able to detect and record if a guest is smoking in the room even if she/he is near an open window. At the time of check-out the sensor can be examined and if there are signs of smoke detection the client can be fined.

Other Considerations

E-Cigarettes: The smoke sensor doesn’t have to be initially able to sense if e-cigarettes were smoked in the rooms since they produce very little human noticeable smell. (Schripp) Additionally, the harms of second hand smoke produced by e-cigarettes are much lower in comparison to normal cigarettes.

Marijuana: Marijuana is becoming legalized in many US sates and 14 million Americans already smoke it on a regular basis. (Motel) It would be ideal for the smoke sensor to be able to detect marijuana smoke as well. Should it be able to detect marijuana form tobacco?

Sources

Chen, George G. "Introduction." Cigarette Consumption and Health Effects. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Nova Science, 2013. Print.

Markowitz, Ronald. "CIGARETTES AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO: SALES AND ADVERTISING STATISTICS AND TRENDS." Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco Sales and Advertising Statistics and Trends. New York: Nova Science, 2013. Print.

Motel, Seth. "6 Facts about Marijuana." Pew Research Center RSS. 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Nassauer, Sarah. "Now at Hotels: The $250 Cigarette." WSJ. 1 Feb. 2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Roberts, Michelle. "Smoker Numbers Edge Close to One Billion - BBC News." BBC News. 8 Jan. 2014. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Schripp, T., D. Markewitz, E. Uhde, and T. Salthammer. "Does E-cigarette Consumption Cause Passive Vaping?" Indoor Air, 2012, 25-31.