31st May 2014 sees the 27th Annual World No Tobacco Day – aka No Smoking Day in some countries, like the UK.
For smokers, World No Tobacco Day is an excellent springboard and motivation to give up smoking on a permanent basis.
Why should you quit smoking and what does the No Smoking Day have to do with Check Your Chap?
Well, smoking is one of the biggest causes of illnesses and deaths in the UK. It can lead to cancer, breathing and heart disease problems, but smoking is also a known risk factor that could lead to erectile dysfunction and hair loss! Now chaps, that’s not very nice, is it?
A bit of history …
Instigated by the World Health Organization in 1987, it initially was a one day event on April 8, 1988 to draw global attention to the dangers of smoking and what was then seen as a tobacco epidemic. In 1988, member states of the World Health Organisation ratified Resolution WHA40 38 cementing an annual World No Tobacco Day, to be celebrated every May 31st.
Since the inaugural event, every World No Tobacco Day has had a theme, drawing particular attention to one specific aspect, rather than just trying to baldly hammer home the message that tobacco is no good for you.
For example, 1989 saw the focus on women’s health and tobacco, while 1992 brought attention to smoking in the workplace. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2014 is a call for a worldwide increase on taxes on tobacco. This is in line with that the WHO isn’t solely focussed on tobacco and the individual, but targets the tobacco companies, retailers and governments too.
World No Tobacco Day 2014
The WHO states that nearly 6 million people die annually as a direct or indirect result of tobacco and this figure equates to 10 per cent of all global deaths – this is the figure that leads to the problem being described as an epidemic. The WHO also states that they expect to see an increase in those figures from 6 to 8 million by 2030. One of the unwritten aims of World No Tobacco Day is to show these deaths are entirely preventable.
The focus for World No Tobacco Day 2014 is the message that an increase in taxes will reduce tobacco-related deaths and illnesses and that it is an issue for individuals as much as governments and health organisations. The messages of the day will be spread not only by the WHO, but also a large number of partners which includes health authorities and social conscience/actions groups all around the world.
Individual Action
It is easy to participate in World No Tobacco Day. For non-smokers, it starts as simple as encouraging friends and family members who smoke to observe the holiday and goes as far as lobbying your MP about increasing taxes on tobacco.
As a smoker, it is a mere question of abstinence from tobacco on May 31. But if you are up for a real challenge, then why don’t you try to stub out your smoking habit for good? Perhaps next year you could celebrate the No Smoking Day as your quit smoking anniversary!
And always remember, if you need help, there is plenty of information and support available.