World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) was created by the Member States of the World Health Organization in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
Every year, on 31 May, WNTD is celebrated, with a different theme to cover the broad range of measures within the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
WHO has recently launched a year-long global campaign for World No Tobacco Day 2021 – “Commit to Quit”. This campaign aims to support 100 million people worldwide in their attempt to give up tobacco through various initiatives and digital solutions.
This year’s theme is protection of younger generations, focusing on “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use”.
Every year, on 31 May, WHO and global partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). In 2019, WNTD will focus on "tobacco and lung health".
In 2018, World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) will focus on "tobacco and heart disease". Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including stroke, are the world’s leading causes of death, and tobacco use is the second leading cause of CVDs, after high blood pressure.
WHO is calling on countries to prioritize and accelerate tobacco control efforts as part of their responses to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Plain packaging of tobacco products is an important demand reduction measure. It reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products, restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of advertising, limits misleading packaging and labelling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings. For World No Tobacco Day 2016, 31 May 2016, WHO and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control are calling on countries to get ready for plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products.
World No Tobacco Day 2015 theme, "Stop illicit trade of tobacco products", is highly relevant for the WHO European Region. Several factors justify combating illicit trade as a priority in the European Region. Compared to other WHO regions, the European Region holds a number of dubious first places.
Increasing the price of tobacco through higher taxes is the single most effective way to decrease consumption and encourage tobacco users to quit. A tax increase also directly benefits governments through increased revenues, which can be used for tobacco control and other important health and social programmes.
Evidence shows that comprehensive advertising bans lead to reductions in the numbers of people starting and continuing smoking. Statistics show that banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce tobacco demand and thus a tobacco control “best buy”.
Tobacco industry interference is a constant threat to tobacco control efforts. Good public health policy depends on a clear-sighted understanding of the serious danger of the industry's tactics and efforts. The 2012 theme focusing on interference by the tobacco industry aims to raise the awareness of this issue.
Countries must ratify and fully implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The tobacco industry has long seen women as a distinct market. Women and girls are increasingly being targeted with tobacco advertising, and recruited by the industry with innovative ways, such as cigarettes that resemble lipstick cases. Female rates are on the rise and this is alarming.
Health warnings on tobacco packages that combine text and pictures are one of the most cost-effective ways to increase public awareness of the serious health risks of tobacco use and to reduce consumption.
The tobacco industry catches you young: learn more about its advertising, promotion and sponsorship tactics and how they are a threat to you.
Second-hand tobacco smoke is dangerous to health. It can have serious and fatal consequences. Ventilation and designated smoking rooms are not effective, and there is no safe level of exposure. The evidence demands an immediate, decisive response, to protect the health of all people.
Countries and governments are encouraged to work towards strict regulation of tobacco products. Awareness needs to be raised about the existence of the wide variety of deadly tobacco products. Regulation should also help people get accurate information, remove the disguise and unveil the truth behind tobacco products - traditional, new, and future.
Health Professionals are in an excellent position that allows them to have a prominent role on tobacco control. They reach a high percentage of the population, are regarded as role models and have the opportunity to help people change their behaviour.
Tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for disease worldwide. The economic costs of tobacco use are equally devastating. The contribution of tobacco to death and disease is well documented. Less attention is given to the ways in which tobacco increases poverty.
Fashion and the film world plays a large role in fostering the worldwide tobacco epidemic and are urged to stop being used as vehicles of death and disease.
In response to the global appeal for action, WHO and its partners launched a campaign to clean sports of all forms of tobacco - tobacco consumption, and exposure to second-hand smoke, tobacco advertising, promotion and marketing.
Second-hand smoke is a real and significant threat to public health. Supported by two decades of evidence, the scientific community now agrees that there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
