World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May and was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable deaths and diseases it causes. On this day, governments, health professionals, civil society groups and communities around the world highlight the dangers of tobacco use and call for stronger control measures to protect current and future generations.

History

The World Health Assembly first called for a world no-smoking day in 1987, and the following year, 7 April 1988 was marked as the first No Smoking Day. In 1989, WHO decided to fix the observance on 31 May each year and renamed it World No Tobacco Day to cover not only cigarettes and other smoking products, but also smokeless tobacco. Since then, WHO has led the global campaign annually, each year choosing a specific theme, such as tobacco and lung health, tobacco and heart disease, protecting youth from industry interference, or the impact of tobacco on the environment.

World No Tobacco Day also supports implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the first global public health treaty devoted to reducing tobacco use. The treaty guides countries to adopt policies like large graphic health warnings on packs, bans on advertising and sponsorship, smoke-free public places, and higher taxes on tobacco products, all of which have been shown to reduce consumption and save lives.

Why it matters

Tobacco is one of the leading causes of preventable illness and death worldwide. According to WHO, it kills more than 8 million people every year, including over a million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke in homes, workplaces and public spaces. Tobacco use causes lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema (COPD), heart attacks, strokes, many other cancers, pregnancy complications and worsens diseases such as diabetes and tuberculosis.

Nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive, which makes quitting difficult without support. The tobacco industry also spends huge amounts of money on marketing, lobbying and designing products to attract new users, especially young people. World No Tobacco Day counters these forces by sharing clear, evidence-based messages that there is no safe level of tobacco use, that newer products such as e-cigarettes are not harmless, and that quitting brings health benefits at any age. Within weeks of quitting, blood pressure and circulation improve; within months, coughing and breathlessness reduce; and over the years, the risks of heart disease, stroke and many cancers fall significantly.

The day also emphasises that strong government policies are essential. Higher tobacco taxes make products less affordable, especially for youth; smoke-free laws protect people from second-hand smoke; and bans on advertising and sponsorship reduce the appeal of tobacco. In addition, funding quit-lines, counselling and medications such as nicotine replacement therapy helps people overcome addiction and stay tobacco-free.

Key facts

In Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, World No Tobacco Day has particular importance because both smoking and smokeless tobacco use are widespread. Many people smoke cigarettes or bidis, while others use smokeless forms such as jorda, gul, sada pata and zarda mixed with betel leaf and areca nut. These products are often socially accepted and sometimes mistakenly seen as less harmful, but in reality they are strongly linked to oral cancer, gum disease, tooth loss and cancers of the throat and oesophagus.

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of smokeless tobacco use in the world, including among women, who may not smoke but frequently use jorda or zarda with betel quid. At the same time, exposure to second-hand smoke in homes, tea stalls, buses and public places puts children, pregnant women and non-smoking adults at risk of heart disease and respiratory illness. Tobacco-related diseases place a heavy burden on families through medical costs, loss of income and premature deaths.

In recent years, the government has taken steps to strengthen tobacco control, including pictorial health warnings on packs, restrictions on advertising and designated smoke-free areas. However, enforcement remains challenging and many people are still unaware of the full range of health risks. On World No Tobacco Day, health authorities, NGOs and professional associations in Bangladesh organise rallies, media programmes, community meetings and school campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of both smoking and smokeless tobacco and to encourage people to quit.

The day is also used to share practical advice on quitting—such as setting a quit date, avoiding triggers like tea stalls and smoking companions, seeking family support, consulting a doctor for counselling or medicines and using distraction or relaxation techniques to handle cravings. At the same time, advocates call for higher tobacco taxes, stronger enforcement of smoke-free laws and clear targets to build a tobacco-free generation so that fewer Bangladeshis suffer from tobacco-related disease in the future.