Today marks the world day without tobacco
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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World No Tobacco Day is celebrated annually on 31 May. It was introduced by the World Health Organization in 1987, and in 1989 the resolution of WHO approved the date of the celebration. The main goal is to draw attention to the tobacco epidemic and the death of people from diseases caused by smoking. Since 1988, WHO has awarded organizations and individuals for a significant contribution to the fight against smoking.
This annual event focuses on the health hazards associated with tobacco and the measures taken by WHO to reduce its consumption. Tobacco consumption is the second leading cause of death worldwide.
WHO gives six tips on how to combat smoking: monitoring tobacco use and countermeasures; protection of people from other people's smoke; help those who want to quit smoking; warning about the dangers of smoking; ban advertising, promote sales and sponsorship of tobacco products; increase taxes on tobacco products.
WHO also draws attention to the fact that the tobacco industry is constantly misleading and misinforming the public about the risks and dangers to health from tobacco and tobacco smoke and the economic impact of the smoking ban. The tobacco industry annually spends billions of dollars to expand its sales network as much as possible to attract young buyers of its products, focusing on entertainment and family events, cinemas, the Internet, fashion magazines, and concerts and sporting events.
On 27 February 2005, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which 164 countries have already ratified, entered into force. Ukraine signed it in 2004 and ratified it in 2006. Thus, the state undertook to take all its conditions at the national, regional and international levels in order to continuously and substantially reduce the consumption of tobacco and tobacco smoke.