SUNIL VAID
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. 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.
COMMIT TO QUIT TODAY
Human Body is very vulnerable to harmful effects of smoking and it can harm our mouth, heart, lungs, blood circulation, stomach, skin, reproduction and fertility. Smoking causes cancer of mouth, lungs, oesophagus and stomach. Smokeless Tobacco is known to cause oral cancer. Tobacco is also a major risk factor for non communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease. Exposure of non-smokers to second hand smoke is an important cause of respiratory infections, worsening of asthma and poor lung function.
WHO served as a central hub for fostering communication and coordinating World No Tobacco Day events around the World. The WHO website provides a place for groups to share the news of their activities and the organization publishes this information on Line. Many Governments use World No Tobacco, Day as the start date for implementing new smoking bans and Tobacco control efforts. The day has also been used as a spring board for discussing the current and future state of a country as it relates to Tobacco- for example in India with 275 Million Tobacco users, has one of the highest Levels of Tobacco consumption in the World. The GOI has also launched smoking Cessation Help Line to help curb the Wide spread addiction in the country.
For some, World No Tobacco day is seen as a challenge to individual freedom of choice or even culturally acceptable form of discrimination. From ignoring WNTD , to participating in protests or acts of defiance, to bookending the day with extra rounds of pro Tobacco advertisements and events, smokers, Tobacco growers, and the tobacco industry have found ways to make their opinions heard.
The smokers may be made aware of numerous ways that can help them to kick the habit of smoking. Nicotine gums, Nicotine patches, lozenges and inhalers are designed to help smokers quit. Nicotine replacement therapy works by releasing a small amount of Nicotine into the blood stream, without the dangerous effects of inhaling tobacco smoke. This provides quick relief from the withdrawal symptoms and cravings that one can get when he stops smoking, and allows one to get on with the psychological habit of smoking.
Smoking suppresses immunity and increases the risk of being infected with COVID-19/ serious lung diseases. Smokers are susceptible as fingers come in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hands to mouth. Sharing tobacco products such as waterpipes can transmit the virus between people.
World No Tobacco Day 2025 serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing threat posed by tobacco & Nicotine products. Anti Tobacco Day 2025 is not just about awareness – its call to action for Govt’s, Health Care Providers, Educators and Individual must work together to :
- Challenge the tobacco industry’s influence on public health policies.
- Support youth focused education and cessation programmes.
- Empower communities to resist marketing and misinformation.
It underscores the urgency of “unmasking the appeal” and dismantling the sophisticated tactics used by industries to trap millions into a lifetime addiction and disease. By exposing the truth, promoting regulations and empowering people with knowledge, Anti Tobacco Day continue to champion the global fight for a tobacco free world – one where every person can enjoy the right to health and a longer, healthier life. What we need is to burn, on a daily basis are calories & not tobacco . Stay healthy and happy with no tobacco.