Last Updated on 19 May 2025 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 2025, the theme is “Unmasking the Appeal”, focusing on exposing the manipulative tactics employed by the tobacco industry to attract new users, particularly among the youth.
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 2025 Theme
The 2025 theme, “Unmasking the Appeal,” aims to shed light on how tobacco companies glamorize their products through marketing strategies that appeal to young people. These tactics include the use of attractive packaging, flavored products, and advertising through various media channels. By unveiling these deceptive practices, the campaign seeks to empower individuals, especially the youth, to make informed decisions and resist the allure of tobacco.
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 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.
Despite efforts to curb tobacco use, challenges persist. A study published in The Lancet projected that the number of smokers worldwide could reach 1.1 billion by 2025, slightly higher than the current one billion. This increase is attributed to rising smoking rates in regions like Africa and the Mediterranean, where tobacco control measures are less stringent.
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 2025
World No Tobacco Day 2025 witnessed a series of global events and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting tobacco cessation:
WHO Global Webinar: On May 13, 2025, the WHO hosted an online event titled “Exposing Lies, Protecting Lives: Unmask the Appeal of Tobacco and Nicotine Products,” focusing on the deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.
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: Events such as the World No Tobacco Day Health Fair at Rockwood Market Hall offered free health screenings, educational materials, and interactive activities to promote 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.
The king shot an arrow at the cow’s feet to make her fall down. The cow’s foot started bleeding, and the blood started dropping on earth. The cow went to heaven in an injured state. Wherever cow’s blood dropped, tobacco grew there. Then from its seeds, numerous plants grew up.
World No Tobacco Day 2025 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 2025
- “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”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about World No Tobacco Day 2025
The 2025 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.
WHO announced the 2025 global campaign for World No Tobacco Day – “Stop the lies”. The aim is to raise awareness about the manipulative practices of the tobacco industry that targets vulnerable groups, specifically the youth.
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.
