WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY-COMMIT TO QUIT

Every year on 31st May, the world observes world no Tobacco Day, a global health campaign lead by World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the dangers of Tobacco use and support effective policies to reduce its consumptions, known also as anti Tobacco Day, this observance highlights the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco use and deceptive practices of tobacco and Nicotine Companies.

- SUNIL VAID

World No Tobacco day serves as a powerful reminder of the public health crisis caused by tobacco and nicotine products, which claim over 8 million lives annually. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2025 is" unmasking the appeal" which focuses on revealing how industries target youth through flavoured products, decepting marketing and addictive product designs to create lifelong users.

WHO estimates that there are about 1100 million regular smokers in the world today. Global consumption of cigarettes has been rising steadily since manufactured cigarettes were introduced in beginning of 20th century. The consumption of tobacco has reached the proportions of global epidemic. The most prevalent form of tobacco use in India is smokeless tobacco and commonly used products are Khaini, Pan, Gutka.Smoking forms of tobacco used are bidi, cigarette and hookah.

World Health organisation came up with the idea of the World No Tobacco Day since 1987 to draw global attention to tobacco epidemic, prevent death and diseases it causes. Further to encourage the government to adopt policies to reduce smoking and other tobacco uses. The world health assembly passed a resolution making April 7, 1988 to be a "world no smoking day". After the resolution was passed, World No Tobacco Day on 31 May every year became a big day for health and community workers to help people quit tobacco.

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