The Member States of the World Health Organization started World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. This yearly celebration on 31 May informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

History

1987 - resolution WHA40.38 calls for 7 April, World Health Day, 1988 to be "a world no-smoking day";
1988 - the theme of World Health Day is "Tobacco or health";
1989 - resolution WHA42.19 of Tobacco or health, "RESOLVES that each year 31 May shall be World No Tobacco Day".

Themes

1990 - "Childhood and youth without tobacco: growing up without tobacco"
1991 - "Public places and transport: better be tobacco-free"
1992 - "Tobacco-free workplaces: safer and healthier"
1993 - "Health services: our window to a tobacco-free world"
1994 - "The media and tobacco: getting the message across"
1995 - "Tobacco costs more than you think"
1996 - "Sport and art without tobacco: play it tobacco free"
1997 - "United for a tobacco- free world"
1998 - "Growing up without tobacco"
1999 - "Leave the pack behind"
2000 - "Tobacco kills don't be duped"
2001 - "Second-hand smoke kills"
2002 - "Tobacco-free sports"
2003 - "Tobacco-free film, tobacco-free fashion: Action!"
2004 - "Tobacco control and poverty"