World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day History

World No Tobacco Day is an annual event designed to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. This observance seeks to inform the public about the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, and the work governments do to combat the tobacco epidemic. World No Tobacco Day provides an opportunity for individuals to come together to promote a tobacco-free world.

World No Tobacco Day was first established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1987. World No Tobacco Day is particularly significant in Australia, where tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death and illness. The Australian government has implemented policies such as plain packaging of tobacco products and increasing taxes on cigarettes.

Typical customs to mark the observance of World No Tobacco Day in Australia include educational events, public awareness campaigns, and cessation support programs. World No Tobacco Day is observed on the 31st of May in Australia, bringing together communities to share their experiences and promote smoke-free environments.

World No Tobacco Day facts

• According to the World Health Organization, nearly 80% of the world's 1 billion smokers live in low and middle income countries.
• Arsenic, lead, and tar are just three of the 7,000 chemicals that are found in tobacco smoke.
• Globally, the prevalence of tobacco smoking is higher among men, with around 32% of men being smokers compared to approximately 9% of women.
• It is estimated that around 2.7 million Australians smoke daily, highlighting the widespread issue of tobacco use in the country.
• Smoking rates are higher among certain population groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those with mental health disorders, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

In the News and Trending in Australia for World No Tobacco Day

Top things to do in Australia for World No Tobacco Day

• Educate youth and teenagers in your neighborhood about the negative effects of smoking and encourage them to quit if they have already picked up the habit. The best way to eradicate smoking is by educating the new generation of the negative effects of tobacco use.
• Volunteer for the Freedom from Smoking program or another like program that helps smokers quit.
• Watch a documentary about the threat that tobacco imposes on Australians. Here are our top picks:
  1. Tobacco: Behind the Smoke (2012) - This documentary by Mike Dudzinski explores the use and dangers of tobacco in Australia, including the effects of smoking on public health, the tobacco industry's marketing tactics, and the development of anti-smoking policies in the country.
  2. Sex, Lies & Cigarettes (2011) - In this episode of the documentary series Vanguard, reporter Christof Putzel investigates the tobacco industry's efforts to market cigarettes to young people in Australia and other countries around the world. The documentary highlights the dangers of smoking to public health and features interviews with experts, tobacco control advocates, and industry insiders.
  3. The Burning Truth: Australia's Hidden Epidemic (2010) - This investigative report by Four Corners, Australia's longest-running current affairs program, delves into the alarming rise of tobacco-related diseases in the country, particularly among Indigenous Australians.
  4. Big Tobacco: Inside Philip Morris (2004) - This in-depth documentary from SBS Dateline goes inside the world's largest tobacco company, Philip Morris, and examines how its operations in Australia contribute to the ongoing health problems associated with smoking.
• Read a book to learn more about the dangers of tobacco and its' impact on Australians. Here are our top picks:
  1. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues by Michelle Scollo and Margaret Winstanley – This comprehensive book provides information on the history of tobacco use in Australia, the health risks associated with smoking, and the impact of tobacco control policies and programs.
  2. Smoke Signals: Selected Writing by Simon Chapman – A collection of essays and articles by Professor Simon Chapman, a prominent Australian tobacco control advocate, exploring various aspects of tobacco control in Australia and globally.
  3. Killing with kindness: funding the demise of a social evil by Paul Grogan and Mike Daube – This book covers the issue of tobacco industry funding for sports, arts, and community events in Australia, discussing the industry's attempts to maintain a positive public image by associating with popular events and institutions.