May 31 — World No Tobacco Day 2025: how the holiday helps to fight smoking

The problem of smoking among the population is relevant for almost all countries of the world. Millions of people die every year from the effects of addiction. It is to this topical issue that a special holiday is dedicated — World No Tobacco Day, which is celebrated on May 31. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Saturday. Izvestia tells about the significance and traditional component of the significant day.

World No Tobacco Day in 2025: date and history of the holiday

Statistics on deaths from smoking-related causes have been of concern to health professionals for several decades, with more than a million non-smokers dying each year due to exposure to second-hand smoke. Wishing to draw public attention to this problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the International Tobacco-Free Day in 1987.

Many countries around the world have joined the initiative. The day of the holiday became an additional reason to draw the attention of the population to the problem of smoking, promote ways to combat the bad habit and carry out educational work among young people.

In Russia, the centralized and active fight against tobacco addiction among citizens began in 2001, when the first federal law "On Tobacco Smoking Restriction" was adopted. In 2013, the law "On Protecting the health of citizens from exposure to ambient tobacco smoke and the consequences of tobacco use" was added to the legislative framework. As part of the innovations, a complete ban on smoking in public places, on advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products was introduced. But anti-smoking measures in Russia are not limited to this: according to the anti-smoking concept, by 2035 the number of smokers in Russia should be reduced from 29% to 21%, and sales of cigarettes and cigarettes per capita will amount to 1 thousand units instead of 1.6 thousand.

Every year, the holiday is held under a special slogan. The theme for 2023 is "Growing food, not tobacco." This means that the focus will be on the negative impact of the tobacco industry on the global food crisis.

Traditions of the World No Tobacco Day holiday

Every year, the celebration becomes an occasion for many educational events, starting with lessons in schools and ending with entire festivals.

Major global companies are joining anti-smoking campaigns, sponsoring events and promoting anti-smoking policies. Thematic flash mobs often take place on social networks, and the media devote reports and publications to an acute social problem.

Public organizations are particularly active in raising public awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and telling smokers how to overcome addiction.

In December, the world celebrated another holiday dedicated to an urgent problem in the field of public health — World AIDS Day. Izvestia spoke about the features of the disease and current measures to prevent its spread.