Last Updated on 23 May 2026 IST | Every year on May 31, the world observes World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. In 2026, the theme is “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction”. This campaign highlights how the tobacco and nicotine industries are continuously reinventing and repackaging their products to attract new generations, mainly children and adolescents, while finessing tobacco control measures.
The World No Tobacco Day- History & Introduction
World No Tobacco Day was established in 1987 by the WHO’s World Health Assembly through Resolution WHA40.38, initially designating April 7, 1988, as “a world no-smoking day.” The following year, Resolution WHA42.19 set May 31 as the annual observance date. Since then, WNTD has served as a platform to inform the public about the dangers of tobacco use, the business practices of tobacco companies, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living.
World No Tobacco Day 2026 Theme
The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2026 is ,“Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction”. The theme exposes how tobacco companies are continuously glorifying their products via marketing strategies to attract young people.
In spite of decades of progress in lowering tobacco consumption, the tobacco industry continues to glamorise addictive products through new strategies. Companies still continue to heavily promote emerging nicotine products including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and synthetic nicotine devices, often presenting them as modern or safer alternatives. These marketing tactics not only keep existing users addicted but also attract younger and new consumers. These efforts could undermine years of success in global tobacco control.
Negative Impact of Tobacco
- Every year 600,000,000 Trees chopped down to make cigarettes
- Every year 84,000,000 Tonnes of CO2 is released into the air raising global temperatures
- Each year 22,000,000,000,000 Liters of water is used to make cigarettes
- 4.5 trillion cigarette butts pollute the environment every year
- Tobacco kills over 8 million people each year, out of which 1.3 million are passive smokers.
The Global Tobacco Epidemic: Facts and Figures
Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. According to the WHO, more than 8 million people die each year due to tobacco-related illnesses, including approximately 1.2 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
According to the WHO Global Report on Tobacco Use Trends 2025, more than 1 billion people are still expected to use tobacco worldwide through 2030 despite gradual declines in smoking prevalence. The report highlights that population growth and increasing tobacco consumption in parts of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean continue to slow global progress. Health experts warn that weak tobacco-control policies, aggressive marketing by tobacco companies, and the rise of new nicotine products could further threaten public health efforts in the coming years.
Tobacco Use in India: A Closer Look
India faces a significant burden from tobacco use, with the Global Adult Tobacco Survey indicating that approximately 28.6% of adults in India use tobacco in some form. This includes both smoking and smokeless tobacco products. The health consequences are severe, contributing to a substantial number of deaths and diseases annually.
The Indian government has implemented various measures to combat tobacco use, such as pictorial warnings on packaging, bans on advertising, and public smoking restrictions. However, enforcement remains a challenge, and the tobacco industry continues to find ways to circumvent regulations, often targeting vulnerable populations, including the youth.
Events and Activities of 2026
World No Tobacco Day 2026 witnessed a series of global events and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting tobacco cessation:
WHO Global Webinar: In 2026, the World Health Organization continues its worldwide anti-tobacco awareness initiatives through international webinars and digital campaigns. These campaigns expose the tactics of the tobacco and nicotine companies of targeting youth through flavored products, social media advertising, and emerging nicotine devices.
Youth Engagement: Educational institutions worldwide organized assemblies and workshops to educate students about the dangers of tobacco use and the industry’s manipulative strategies.
Community Clean-Up Drives: Organizations like Take Down Tobacco encouraged communities to participate in clean-up activities, collecting tobacco-related litter to highlight environmental impacts.
Health Fairs and Awareness Drives: In 2026, free health screening camps, counseling programs, and public awareness were organized by governments, NGOs, and healthcare institutions to advocate tobacco cessation and spread awareness about smoking- related diseases and deaths.
WHO Awards and Recognition: To recognise individuals and organizations for their immense contribution to tobacco control, public awareness, and nicotine addiction prevention across the globe, World Health Organization organized the WNTD 2026 Awards for World No Tobacco Day 2026.
Educational Resource Distribution: As a part of the World No Tobacco Day 2026 campaign, World Health Organization provided educational toolkits, school awareness materials, and tobacco-cessation resources to help communities, schools, and healthcare organizations spread awareness about nicotine addiction and encourage tobacco-free lifestyles.
Origin of Tobacco | What Is Tobacco Made of?
Has tobacco started growing all of a sudden? The answer is NO.
There is a story behind the origin of tobacco!
According to the scriptures, a sage and a king were brothers-in-law. One day the king’s queen invited her sister, the sage’s wife, to her palace for a meal. When the sage’s wife asked her husband to accompany her, he refused saying that one should not be in friendship with Saadhu (husband of wife’s sister) as their main motive is to insult us. But the sage’s wife did not agree. The sage, his wife, and their family went as the king’s guests. After having food, the sage’s wife also invited the king and the queen to their home.
■ Read in Hindi | World No Tobacco Day in Hindi
On the scheduled day, the king along with his family and thousands of soldiers arrived at his brother-in-law sage’s hut. The sage requested heaven’s King, Indra for Kamdhenu cow (a cow that fulfills all desires; in her presence, one gets any kind of food by just wishing for it) in return for his virtuous deeds. The Kamdhenu cow was given to the sage.
Kamdhenu Cow did the Miracles
The sage family sang the praise of the cow mother and expressed their wish. Immediately different types of food in large silver dishes, baskets, and wokes came from heaven and started being placed inside the tent. The sage family served the king, his family, and his whole army with the best of the foods.
- The king was astonished to see that and felt extremely embarrassed as the food he served to the sage family was nothing in front of this feast.
- He considered it his insult and started burning in the fire of jealousy. He went into his tent, called the sage, and asked him the secret of such a huge feast without any preparation in sight.
The sage told him, “In return of my virtuous deeds and bhakti, I have borrowed a cow from heaven. It is a specialty of that cow that it instantly provides as much food as we want.”
“Sage! Give this cow to me.” The sage said, “King! I have borrowed this cow mother from heaven. I am not her master. I cannot give her to you.” The king ordered his soldiers to snatch the cow and return to the palace. Seeing the bad intention of his brother-in-law the sage said to the Kamdhenu, “Cow Mother! You may please quickly return to your master, King of heaven Indra.” Immediately, Kamdhenu, tearing through the tent, flew straight up.
Sant Garibdas Ji’s Divine Message Against Tobacco
One day Sant Garibdas Ji Maharaj was going to a village in the Jind district for some work, passing through the fields of village Malkhedi. He was travelling on a horse. Wheat stalks were standing on the fields. Suddenly the horse started to move from inside the wheat fields, leaving the normal path. Seeing this, the caretakers of the farms became furious. Carrying sticks, they ran towards Sant Garibdas Ji to hit him. They shouted, “Have you gone mad? You have destroyed our crop! Can you not ride the horse properly?”
When they tried to strike Sant Garibdas Ji, their hands froze in the air and all of them stood like statues and remained still for several minutes. When Sant Garibdas Ji raised his hand in blessing, then their motionlessness ended. The caretakers fell down and the sticks slipped from their hands. After the incident, caretakers realised that he was no common man. They begged for forgiveness.
Sant Garibdas Ji then asked them, “Before sowing wheat, what crop had you grown here?” The farmers said that barley had been grown earlier, and before that, tobacco was grown. Sant Garibdas Ji told the farmers that the foul odour of tobacco was still present in the field, and the horse was disturbed by that odour, due to which it went to the wheat fields. Sant Garibdas Ji ordered the villagers to quit smoking hukka and consuming tobacco, or else the village would suffer great loss.
At first the villagers agreed, but later they ignored the warning and tried to fill their hukkas. But every chilam they would touch broke into pieces. Soon, all the chilams and hukkas in the village also broke. After these incidents, the villagers became afraid and everyone realised that this was a divine warning from Sant Garibdas Ji. From then onwards, no people of Malkhedi smoke hukka and tobacco. Through this act, Sant Garibdas Ji encouraged people to leave harmful addictions.
World No Tobacco Day 2026 Quotes
■ Sant Garibdas ji has stated in his sacred speech: –
“Bhang tamakhu peevte, chismyon naali tamaam|
Sahib teri Sahibi, jaane kahan gulaam ||
Khoo naam khoon ka Tamaa naam gay|
Sau baar saugandh isko na peeye-khaay||”
Meaning:– In the Persian language, a cow is called “Tamaa”. Blood is called “Khoo”. Sant Gareeb das ji had said that Tobacco originated from the blood of a cow. I am telling you a hundredth time not to consume it.
- The sin of consumption of tobacco is equivalent to drinking the blood of a cow.
- Tobacco/intoxication blocks our way to attain God.
- Intoxication is not for human beings. It turns a human being into a devil.
Sant Garib Das Ji Maharaj Vani (Quotes) on Tobacco
- “To save life say no to tobacco”
- “One can buy tobacco in any form but not life again”
- “Don’t let tobacco destroy you, Start from destroying tobacco”
Drug-free World by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj
Everyone knows that tobacco is injurious to health and every year millions of people lose their lives due to its consumption. But few people know that tobacco and other intoxicants are also injurious to our spiritual health. Governments of all countries have started various rehabilitation centers to eradicate all types of addictions, and almost every individual tries to be free from addiction but doesn’t succeed. Then, what is the way to be free from addictions?
■ Also Read | Intoxication Free World by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj
As we studied all aspects and ways of quitting addictions, we have witnessed an altogether different society originating in India which not only quit tobacco but all sorts of drugs and intoxication. This pure society is being formed by the famous Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj. It’s only through the spiritual knowledge given by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj that one gets to know how precious human life is and how intoxication blocks our way to attain God in this lifetime.
Followers of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj are Free From all Addictions
Those who listen to the Spiritual Knowledge given by Saint Rampal Ji and get initiation from Him never ever touch any intoxicant again. His followers are not only free from all addictions but also from all diseases and lead very simple and spiritual lives. This is made possible with the power of true worship which is revealed to us by true spiritual leader Saint Rampal Ji. Kindly download Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj App and learn Eternal Knowledge.
That’s why we urge you to listen to the Satsang of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj on Sadhna Tv at 7:30 pm daily. You can also be free from addictions and find true peace through spirituality. If you wish to take Naam Initiation from Jagatguru Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj, kindly fill the Online Naam Diksha (Naam Initiation) Form.“
Slogan on World No Tobacco Day 2026
- “To save life say no to tobacco”
- “One can buy tobacco in any form but not life again”
- “Don’t let tobacco destroy you, Start from destroying tobacco”
FAQ about World No Tobacco Day 2026
The 2026 theme is “Unmasking the Appeal,”
31 May is World No Tobacco Day
In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution to mark 31 May as World No Tobacco Day
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Member States created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 with the aim of ending the global tobacco crisis and the diseases and deaths caused by the epidemic. For this the World Health Assembly passed a Resolution.
The World No Tobacco Day 2026 aims to raise awareness about the evolving strategies of the tobacco and nicotine industry, including the growing use of synthetic nicotine, nicotine salts, and similar substances designed to increase addiction while appearing modern and technologically advanced.
The World Tobacco Day 2026 campaign also encourages stricter policies to protect youth through restrictions on flavours, advertising, digital and social media promotion, and attractive packaging that increases product appeal. Also, it seeks to eliminate addiction and lower tobacco demand by equipping people — especially youth — with the knowledge, awareness, and evidence-based cessation support required to resist industry manipulation and make healthier choices.
China
WNTD is celebrated to raise awareness about the harmfulness of Tobacco.
Ireland put a ban on indoor smoking in workplaces on 29th March 2004. Whereas Bhutan is the only country which has banned tobacco production and sale. However, there is no restriction on smoking in public places in Bhutan. There is no country that has completely banned tobacco.
