World Anti Tobacco Day also referred to as World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31 around the world. It was created by WHO member states in 1987 as a way to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable deaths and diseases it causes. It was in 1987 that the World Health Assembly passed a Resolution proclaiming 7 April 1988 as the “World No Smoking Day.” A resolution was passed in 1988 calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day to take place on 31 May. The goal is to reduce the number of deaths associated with tobacco use.
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- The world’s second biggest killer is tobacco.
- There are also alarming data to show that hundreds of thousands of non-smokers die each year after exposing themselves to secondhand smoke.
- A key part of this yearly celebration is to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use, the business practices of tobacco companies, WHO’s efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to protect future generations and claim their right to health.
Anti Tobacco Day Theme 2024
Every year, No Tobacco Day celebration takes place around a theme. The theme of anti-tobacco Day 2024 is Protecting children from tobacco industry interference. The no tobacco day observance educates the public about the dangers associated with tobacco use, the practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and how people can protect themselves and future generations against the tobacco epidemic.
Have a look at previous year themes as well to better understand how the no tobacco day theme alignes with the Sustainable Development Goals.
| Year | Theme |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Tobacco: Threat to our environment |
| 2021 | Commit to quit |
| 2020 | Tobacco Exposed: The secret’s out |
| 2019 | Tobacco and lung health |
| 2018 | Tobacco and heart disease |
| 2017 | Tobacco: a threat to development |
| 2016 | Get ready for Plain Packaging |
| 2015 | Stop illicit trade of tobacco products |
| 2014 | Raise taxes on tobacco |
| 2013 | Free yourself: Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship |
| 2012 | Tobacco industry interference |
| 2011 | The WHO Framework on Tobacco Control |
| 2010 | Gender and tobacco: emphasis on marketing to women |
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History of World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day was established in 1987 by the World Health Organization in response to tobacco-related deaths and diseases around the world. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38 declaring April 7 as “world no-smoking day”; next, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed in 1988, observing 31 May as World No Tobacco Day annually. Tobacco advertisements were banned by the WHO in 2008.
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WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
February 2005 marked the entry into force of the Framework Convention of 2003. It had 181 Parties by the end of 2019, including 50 member countries of the WHO and the European Union.
At present, 90% of the world’s population is covered by it and countries have access to the legal and technical framework to fight the tobacco epidemic. Both tobacco supply and demand are intended to be reduced by the measures outlined in the WHO FCTC. They include –
- Raising tobacco taxes
- Banning smoking in public places
- Banning advertisement of tobacco products and sales to minors
- Warning the public about the dangers of tobacco use
- Promoting alternative livelihoods for tobacco growers
- Helping tobacco users to quit
Several sectors outside the health sector need to collaborate to meet WHO FCTC obligations, including finance, trade, agriculture, the environment, labor, education, and law enforcement.
By linking tobacco control to relevant United Nations covenants, including human rights, the WHO FCTC has demonstrated that global regulation has the potential to facilitate public health, mobilize resources, and promote transparency.
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Importance of World No Tobacco Day 2024
The most fundamental importance of observing world anti-tobacco day is to make people aware of its deadly hazards. However, not the human beings but the environment itself is under threat due to smoke and tobacco usage.
- Through this annual campaign, tobacco users are made aware of the environmental impact of the tobacco industry (from cultivation to distribution to waste management), which will provide an additional reason to quit.
- The goal is to reduce tobacco consumption-related diseases and deaths worldwide.
- To expose tobacco companies’ efforts to portray themselves as eco-friendly in order to improve their reputations.
- Developing healthier and more sustainable communities by reducing tobacco consumption and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
- It is a matter of enforcing rules that will hold tobacco producers (industries) responsible for waste tobacco products, and it is a matter of strengthening the current system by enacting rules and enforcing them.
- Over 8 million people are killed every year due to the use of tobacco. And, this figure is expected to rise to over 8 million by 2030. The Sustainable Development Agenda aims to reduce deaths from tobacco-related diseases by a third.
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How do spread awareness about the anti-tobacco day campaign?
There are many ways you can make people aware of the life-threatening dangers associated with tobacco consumption. Some of the most effective ones are listed here.
- While sharing anti-tobacco day quotes and slogans use hashtags like #notobaccoday #antitobaccoday #quitsmoking etc. on your social media to reach the masses.
- Read to know about the tobacco industry’s greenwashing tactics.
- Support the implementation of additional environmental taxes and levies on the industry.
World Anti-Tobacco Day – Conclusion
As part of WNTD 2023, governments and policymakers are called upon to update legislation, including implementing and strengthening existing programs to hold producers responsible for the costs associated with handling tobacco waste. In accordance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), WHO also recommends that countries completely ban tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
No Tobacco Day FAQs
The anti tobacco day is celebrated on 31st March, every year.
The anti tobacco day 2024 theme is – Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.
WHO No Smoking Day is observed on 9th March, every year.
Yes, various species of tobacco are members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae).
Mesoamerican and South American natives were the first to discover tobacco and introduced it to Europe and the rest of the world.