World No Tobacco Day 2024 - Friday, May 31 2024

Tobacco consumption in any form is dangerous to our health. People need to be made aware of the ills of tobacco. World No Tobacco Day is the event dedicated to call attention towards the impact of tobacco use on public health and reduce individual tobacco dependence. Governments of all the countries across the world are imposing strict regulations on tobacco products.

World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31st each year. This day is organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

The main objectives of World No Tobacco Day include:

1. Raising Awareness: Educating the public about the dangers of tobacco use, including the risks of smoking, secondhand smoke, and tobacco-related diseases.
2. Promoting Policies: Encouraging governments to implement and enforce policies that reduce tobacco use, such as higher taxes on tobacco products, stricter advertising bans, and smoking cessation programs.
3. Supporting Cessation Efforts: Providing resources and support for individuals who want to quit smoking or using other tobacco products.

World No Tobacco Day Themes

• 2024: "We Need Food, Not Tobacco"
  Focus: Highlighting the conflict between tobacco cultivation and food security, and advocating for shifting agricultural practices from tobacco to food crops.

• 2023: "We Need Food, Not Tobacco"
  Focus: The same theme as 2024, emphasizing the impact of tobacco farming on the environment and food supply.

• 2022: "Tobacco: Threat to Our Environment"
  Focus: Addressing the environmental damage caused by tobacco production and promoting eco-friendly practices.

• 2021: "Commit to Quit"
  Focus: Encouraging people to commit to quitting tobacco use and supporting those who want to quit.

• 2020: "Protecting Youth from Industry Manipulation and Preventing them from Tobacco and Nicotine Use"
  Focus: Raising awareness about how the tobacco industry targets youth and promoting measures to protect them.

• 2019: "Tobacco and Lung Health"
  Focus: Raising awareness about the impact of tobacco on lung health and the importance of quitting smoking for lung health.

• 2018: "Tobacco and Heart Disease"
  Focus: Highlighting the link between tobacco use and heart disease, and advocating for measures to reduce tobacco consumption.

• 2017: "Tobacco – a threat to development"
  Focus: Addressing the broader impact of tobacco on sustainable development and health.

Every year May 31 is observed as World No Tobacco Day since 1987 after the unanimous decision of the members of World Health Organization. It drew global attention to the prevailing use of tobacco and to its negative health effects. The day focuses on reduction of tobacco-related health problems and deaths. Annually around 5.4 million deaths happen all over the world because of tobacco consumption. WHO put a complete ban on advertising tobacco products through any means from May 31, 2008.

According to the Article 11 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, large, clear and visible health warnings or other pictorial messages depicting the harmful effects of tobacco use must be printed on all the tobacco products are made mandatory to all countries. It is one of the six important strategies of WHO MPOWER policy package for tobacco control. All products related to tobaccos in India carry graphic pictorial warnings like the skull and cross bones or a cancer-disfigured face or diseased lungs to highlight the hazards of tobacco intake.

According to a National Family Health Survey conducted in 2005-06, in India, over 57 per cent men in the age group of 15-49 years consume tobacco in some form and over 10.9 per cent of women in this age group also use tobacco.

World No Tobacco Day is observed with a new theme every year. The global theme for 2006 WNTD is “Tobacco: Deadly in any form or Disguise”, in 2007 the theme focused on smoke-free environments.  The theme of World No Tobacco Day in 2008 was “Tobacco free youth”. The theme of World No Tobacco Day in 2009 was “Tobacco Health Warnings”.

The introduction of reality about the harms and addiction of tobacco products to people helps improve their own health, as well as the health of their families, friends, and others in their community.
WHO honor organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to reducing tobacco consumption.

Cancer Patients Aid Association regularly organizes awareness programmes for people to educate them. Free awareness lectures & screening camps are organized for public to commemorate World No Tobacco Day. Street plays, skits, debates, painting and extempo competition are held on the evils of tobacco consumption.

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