World NO Tobacco Day :
31st may- the day on which the world Health Organization (WHO) and global partners celebrate the world NO tobacco day. The annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.
According to the WHO data, There are 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide. That number would be even larger if tobacco didn’t kill half of its users. Every four seconds, tobacco takes another life. Decades of the tobacco industry’s deception and devious tactics have hooked generations of users to nicotine and tobacco, driving this global epidemic.
The multi-billion-dollar industry recruits new tobacco and nicotine users to reward investors with as much profit as possible and keep its business alive. Tobacco and related industries have increasingly preyed on children and adolescents, employing advertising tactics and targeting them directly with a new portfolio of products that threaten their health.
These industries are moving at a rapid speed to launch existing and new products and use every means to expand their market share before regulations can catch up with them. Tobacco and related industries continue to oppose evidence-based measures, such as increases in excise taxes and comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and have threatened legal actions against governments that try to protect the health of their citizens.
Celebrating World No Tobacco Day is very important to encourage people to quit smoking. It will not only save their lives but also save people around them. One should know the history and origin of this day before celebrating it. We have all the important details for interested readers who want to observe the event.
World No Tobacco Day aims to draw attention to the business practices of tobacco companies to capture generations of consumers and their interference in policy decisions that undermine effective tobacco control. It serves to highlight what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic that kills up to half its users and contributes to more than eight million people dying every year, and what people can do to protect future generations and allow everyone the chance to claim their right to health. Every year, the theme of World No Tobacco Day addresses a specific issue related to tobacco and its industry.
Smoking among youth remains prevalent and is increasing in certain nations. More than 38 million young people aged between 13 and 15 are using some form of tobacco. In 2022, scenes featuring tobacco increased by 110% in popular recent shows among 15- to 24-year-olds, often portraying smoking as glamorous and cool. According to Truth Initiative, young people are up to 3x more likely to start vaping when exposed to smoking imagery on screen.
FOUNDATION:-
World No Tobacco Day was created in 1987 by Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of the harms caused by tobacco products to people, public health, communities and the environment. The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
Theme for 2024 world no tobacco day:-
According to UICC, The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2024 is “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference” to protect future generations and ensure that tobacco use continues to decline. This year, attention is directed towards the alarming trend of the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing towards youth. Through extensive social media and streaming platform campaigns, young people are increasingly exposed to the allure of tobacco products, posing a significant threat to their health and well-being.
