World No Tobacco Day
Each year on the 31st May The World Health Organization (WHO) celebrate World No Tobacco Day, a day which intends to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco, encouraging a 24 hour tobacco free period.
Each year WHO select a different theme on which they base the day and this year the theme is “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”.
The framework, which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2003 and has since been taken on by 172 countries and the European Union, means that those involved are obligated to ensure the following:
-Ban advertising and sales of tobacco to minors.
-Introduce large health warnings on tobacco packaging.
-Protect people from tobacco smoke exposure.
-Increase taxes on tobacco.
-Reduce or ban additives in tobacco products.
Already many countries have made huge progressions in implementing rules and regulations so that they now fall in line with the treaty. For example, health warnings on tobacco packing in Uruguay now cover 80% of the packet, China and Turkey have implemented bans on smoking in public areas and Mauritius have introduced picture warnings on packs.
According to the WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, more needs to be done if the treaty is to achieve its full potential. ”It is not enough to become a Party to the treaty. Countries must also pass, or strengthen, the necessary implementing legislation and then rigorously enforce it.” She said.
If you are a smoker who would like to give up then visit our fact-sheet on hypnotherapy for smoking to find out how it could help you to overcome your addiction.
Find out more about World No Tobacco Day.