World No-Tobacco Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Significance And More

World No-Tobacco Day is an annual event organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

This year, the event will once again bring together public health champions from around the world to raise awareness about the harmful influences of the tobacco industry, particularly on youth.

World No-Tobacco Day 2024 will be observed on Friday, May 31.

The theme for World No-Tobacco Day 2024 is 'Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference'. This theme focuses on advocating for policies and measures that prevent the tobacco industry from targeting young people with harmful tobacco products. It provides a platform for young people, policymakers, and tobacco control advocates to discuss the issue and urge governments to take action.

World No-Tobacco Day was created by the WHO member states in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. The first World No-Tobacco Day was held on April 7, 1988, marking the 40th anniversary of the WHO. Later, it was decided to observe the day annually on May 31.

The day emphasises the health risks and other hazards associated with tobacco use and advocates for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. It also aims to educate people about the harmful effects of tobacco on health, encourage smokers to quit and protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.

Campaigns and activities organised on this day promote tobacco cessation policies, upgrade access to cessation services, and to spread awareness about the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry.

Despite significant reductions in smoking rates due to robust tobacco control efforts, many young people continue to use tobacco products.

According to WHO's 2022 data, around 37 million young people aged 13-15 years globally use some form of tobacco. In the WHO European region alone, 11.5% of boys and 10.1% of girls in this age group are tobacco users, totalling about four million adolescents.

To sustain its profits, the tobacco industry targets young people to replace the millions of customers lost each year due to death and quitting. The industry uses lax regulations to keep its products accessible and affordable. It also employs advertising tactics that appeal to children and adolescents, often through social media and streaming platforms.

Electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches are increasingly popular among youth. In the European region, 12.5% of adolescents used e-cigarettes in 2022, compared to only 2% of adults. In some countries, e-cigarette use among school children is 2-3 times higher than cigarette smoking rates.

World No-Tobacco Day 2024 urges governments and the tobacco control community to protect young people from the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry. The event encourages policies that:

• Promote robust tobacco cessation initiatives.

• Improve access to cessation services.

• Raise awareness about the tobacco industry's tactics.

• Support individuals who want to quit through "Quit and Win" programmes.

Smoking and chewing tobacco could cause both short-term and long-term health problems, ranging from ulcers and tooth loss to oral cancer and heart disease.