Anti-Tobacco Day [31st May]

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : May 31, 2023, 7:28

Anti-Tobacco Day, also known as World No Tobacco Day, is celebrated every year on 31st May to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking tobacco. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 60% of tobacco users worldwide wish to quit, yet only 30% of the global population access high-quality tobacco cessation programs. World No Tobacco Day is a day to fight against the bad habit of smoking and choose a healthy life.

World No Tobacco Day was founded by the World Health Organization members 1987. Learn more about the history, significance, and theme of No Smoking Day here.

No Smoking Day 2023

On World No Tobacco Day, people raise awareness about the harmful effects of consuming tobacco. It is also highlighted that the consumption of tobacco causes preventable death. People are also encouraged to give up smoking on this day and hence, this day is also known as No Smoking Day.

World No Tobacco Day was first celebrated in 1987 and is a part of the WHO’s global public health campaigns. Find more information shared about Anti-Tobacco Day below:

Event

World No Tobacco Day or Anti-Tobacco Day

Celebrated

31st May

Established

1987

World No Tobacco Day Theme 2022

“Tobacco: Threat to our Environment.”

Aim

To highlight the negative impact of tobacco and encourage people to quit consuming it.

World No Tobacco Day Theme 2022

To present a unified message on Anti-Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization announces a unique theme every year for this day. The World No Tobacco Day 2022 theme is “Tobacco: Threat to our Environment.” As it is obvious, the theme highlights the negative impact of tobacco on the environment. Every year, millions of cigarette-ends find their way to destroy nature. This Anti-Tobacco Day is about acknowledging the impression that smokers leave on our planet.

Previous Year’s World Tobacco Day Themes

Here are the previous year’s World Tobacco Day themes shared by the World Health Organization:

Year

No Smoking Day Theme

2000

"Tobacco kills, don't be duped"

2006

"Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise”

2017

"Tobacco – a threat to development"

2018

"Tobacco breaks hearts"

2019

"Make Every Day World No Tobacco Day"

2020

"Tobacco Exposed: The secret's out"

2021

"Commit to Quit"

2022

“Tobacco: Threat to our Environment”

No Smoking Day Objectives

The World Health Organization (WHO) hosts Anti-Tobacco Day every year to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and help people understand how second-hand smoke affects smokers, their families, and their communities. It's also critical to promote legislation that limits tobacco consumption.

WHO announced a global campaign under the "Commit to Quit" tag to commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2021. The objective behind this campaign is:

  • Promoting tobacco-abandonment solid policies.
  • Improving the availability of cessation services.
  • Raising awareness about the tobacco industry's tactics.
  • Provide help to persons who wish to quit through Quit and Win initiatives.

World No Tobacco Day is also the day on which smokers are recommended to stop smoking for at least 24 hours before starting again. Tobacco usage leads to dental decay, cancer, cardiovascular illness, and tooth discolouration, among other things.

Anti-Tobacco Day Significance

In India alone, tobacco usage is responsible for about 1.3 million deaths per year, or 3500 deaths per day, creating a significant burden on society and the economy that may be avoided. Observing World No Tobacco Day is significant because:

  • Tobacco hurts the country's economic development.
  • Smokers have a 40-50 per cent increased risk of dying from Covid-19-related disease.
  • According to the WHO research "Economic Costs of Diseases and Deaths Attributable to Tobacco Use in India" (published in August 2020).
  • The economic cost of diseases and fatalities caused by tobacco smoking in India has been estimated to be Rs. 1.77 lakh crores, or around 1% of GDP.

World No Tobacco Day - Initiatives Taken to Control Usage of Tobacco

  • Under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, India accepted tobacco control provisions (WHO FCTC).
  • The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003 is a federal law that prohibits the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors.
  • It replaced the Cigarettes Act of 1975, mostly confined to statutory warnings on cigarette packs and advertisements, such as "Cigarette Smoking is Harmful to Your Health." Non-cigarettes were excluded.)
  • Days such as World No Tobacco Day reinforce the idea that tobacco consumption is dangerous to health, and may encourage people to quit.
  • Bidis, Pipe Tobacco, Chewing Tobacco, Gutka, Cigars, Cheroots, hookah, and pan masala were included in the 2003 Act.
  • The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019, was promulgated, restricting the manufacture, import, export, transportation, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes.
  • Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS): Nicotine Quitline Services can reach a massive number of tobacco users with the primary goal of providing telephone-based tobacco cessation information, guidance, support, and referrals.
  • The Cessation Program is a tobacco-cessation campaign that uses mobile technology.
  • As part of the government's Digital India strategy, India implemented mCessation utilizing text messaging in 2016.

Influence of No Smoking Day - Decline in Tobacco Consumption

Anti-Tobacco Day is celebrated to make people aware of the harmful effects of tobacco. The government has also taken several initiatives to reduce the consumption of tobacco.

  • Tobacco use has declined by six percentage points since 2009-10, from 34.6 per cent to 28.6 per cent in 2016-17.
  • India has set a lofty goal of lowering tobacco consumption by 30 per cent by 2025 as part of its 2017 National Health Policy.

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FAQs on Anti-Tobacco Day

Q1. When is World No Tobacco Day celebrated?

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated on 31st May every year. This day was established by the World Health Organization members to encourage people to quit the habit of consuming tobacco. Anti-Tobacco Day is observed worldwide on an annual basis.

Q2. What is World No Tobacco Day theme 2022?

World No Tobacco Day theme 2022 is “Tobacco: Threat to our Environment.” This year’s theme aims to highlight the impact of tobacco and its consumption on the environment. Each year, the World Health Organization announces a new theme for World No Tobacco Day.

Q3. Which day is celebrated as No Smoking Day?

Each year, 31st May is celebrated as No Smoking Day. This day is officially known as World No Tobacco Day. This day was established by the World Health Organization memebrs to encourage people to give up smoking by highlighting its adverse effects on health and the environment.

Q4 How many people in India die because of Tobacco consumption each year?

In India, tobacco usage is responsible for about 1.3 million deaths per year. World No Tobacco Day is celebrated each year on 31st May to spread awareness about this issue, and to encourage people to give up on consuming tobacco.