UNMASK THE APPEAL & BREAK THE CYCLE

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on May 31. It is a global effort led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to make people more aware of how smoking is bad for them and to push for policies that will help them quit. Since its inception in 1987, this day has been an important chance for health workers, activists and the government to talk about how bad tobacco is for people's health, the environment and economies around the world. Since tobacco use is still one of the biggest preventable causes of death worldwide, this observance is an important reminder of how urgent it is to eradicate tobacco use from our lives. Globally, there are 1.3 billion tobacco users, including an estimated 37 million children aged 13-15. Over 8 million deaths are caused by tobacco use each year, of which over 7 million are directly related to tobacco use and roughly 1.3 million are caused by secondhand smoke exposure for nonsmokers. Even though the risks of tobacco use are well known, addiction to it persists especially among young people. Because tobacco contains the extremely addictive chemical nicotine, it is difficult for users to stop once they have started. Additionally, tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 toxic chemicals including known carcinogens. These substances are linked to a number of severe health issues such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco and snuff are linked to oral cancers, gum disease and other conditions.

- PROF VIKAS SHARMA & KOMAL SUDAN

Every year on World No Tobacco Day, there is a different theme that brings attention to a different part of the tobacco problem. These topics have included exposing tobacco industry practices, empowering young resistance, encouraging tobacco taxes and preserving the environment from tobacco waste. The 2025 World No Tobacco Day theme, "Unmask the Appeal" highlights the tactics employed by the tobacco and nicotine businesses to appeal to young people in particular with their dangerous products. These industries use deceptive product designs, sweet and alluring tastes and marketing to make tobacco and nicotine use seem safe and desirable. This deliberate strategy hides the unpleasant realities of addiction and health harm, making it simpler for people especially teenagers to begin using these drugs and far more difficult to stop. The 2025 campaign encourages governments, groups and individuals to push for stricter rules that remove the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products by exposing these misleading practices and pointing out the marketing playbook of these businesses. The goal is to keep present and future generations from being duped int