World No Tobacco Day 2023: History, purpose, theme, and more

Every year on 31st May the World No Tobacco Day is celebrated. The day is celebrated to spread awareness about the harms of tobacco use.

In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling for 7 April 1988 to be a "a world no-smoking day." Later in 1988, another resolution was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

This year the theme of the World No Tobacco Day is 'We need food, not tobacco'. The theme is choosen to spread awareness among tobacco farmers about alternative sustainable and nutritious crops. The theme was choosen considering the fact that around 3.5 million hectares of land are converted for tobacco growing each year globally which is creating food insecurity worldwide.


Tobacco is a major public health concern across the world, including India. As per Global Adult Tobacco Survey-India (GATS2) India is the second largest producer and consumer of tobacco products in the world with over 27 crore tobacco users.

Dangers of tobacco use
According to the World Health Organisation, "nicotine contained in tobacco is highly addictive and tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, over 20 different types or subtypes of cancer, and many other debilitating health conditions."

Tobacco use result in death of over 8 million people every year.

Tobacco and smoking contribute to a wide range of diseases, including strokes, heart attacks, lung disorders, and various cancers affecting multiple organs such as the mouth, throat, lungs, pancreas, bladder, kidneys, liver, and stomach.

It inflicts significant damage to lung tissue at a microscopic level. The functional units of the lungs, called alveoli, facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with each breath.

Tobacco smoke contains toxic chemicals which also cause damages to the linings of the airways and the lungs. It weakens the immunity of the patient to fight against the tuberculosis causing mycobacterium. More than 20 per cent of the global TB incidence may be attributed to smoking.

According to WHO, "tobacco can also be deadly for non-smokers. Second-hand smoke exposure has also been implicated in adverse health outcomes, causing 1.2 million deaths annually. Nearly half of all children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke and 65 000 children die each year due to illnesses related to second-hand smoke. Smoking while pregnant can lead to several life-long health conditions for babies"