World No Tobacco Day
World No Tobacco Day takes place every 31 May to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption worldwide.
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.
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.
UICC's engagement in tobacco control
Tobacco use is linked to at least 20 cancer types and the leading preventable cause of cancer by a wide margin. Indeed, tobacco products cause some 2.4 million deaths globally every year, almost a quarter of all deaths due to cancer (10 million).
For this reason, UICC fully supports the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, and puts the emphasis on raising awareness on the deleterious effect of tobacco use on health, and specifically on cancer cases and deaths.
UICC notably advocates for effective tobacco control in low- and middle-income countries where 80% of the world’s smokers live, supports the implementation of cost-effective measures to curb tobacco use, and raises awareness about efforts by the tobacco industry to expand its market and fight anti-smoking legislation.
Learn the facts about tobacco
Take action
UICC encourages all its members to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, and urge decision makers and governments to take action to reduce tobacco consumption and protect youth.
- World No Tobacco Day (WHO)
- World No Tobacco Day (CDC)
- World No Tobacco Day 2021: Joining forces for tobacco control by Anil D’Cruz
- World No Tobacco Day (American Lung association)
Tobacco use is a leading cause of many types of cancer, accounting for some 2.5 million deaths due to cancer globally, and costs an estimated USD 1.4 trillion to economies. New products, such as e-cigarettes, are designed to capture a new generation of consumers.
Tobacco control
Last update
Thursday 17 April 2025