May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. The opportunity to quit smoking.
In France and throughout the world, the May 31 is dedicated to No Tobacco Day Or World no Tobacco Day. This Day is the ideal opportunity to start weaning. Smoking is the second cause of death in the world with more than 6 million deaths per yearof whom more than 600,000 are non-smokers, reports National Education. Almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places. “Tobacco is the leading risk factor for cancer, responsible for one in five cancers and one in three deaths from cancer. Consuming tobacco increases the risk of 17 different cancer sites.recalls Professor Steven Le Gouill, director of the Institut Curie Hospital Complex. In France, the number of smokers is estimated at more than 10 million people. Among them, 34.6% are men and 26.5% are women. Smoking, particularly among women, has been on the rise since the early 1970s.
When is No Tobacco Day in 2026?
No Tobacco Day takes place on Sunday May 31, 2026. Not to be confused with No Tobacco Month which takes place every November in France.
What is the theme of No Tobacco Day?
The Day has a different theme each year to cover the wide range of actions taken in accordance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The 2026 edition focuses on the theme: “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction”. This campaign aims to expose the way in which the tobacco industry is reinventing its products (flavors, packaging designs, digital marketing) to make nicotine attractive to younger generations.
What are the actions for No Tobacco Day?
WHO provides smokers with the tools and resources they need to successfully quit. From May 31 to June 30, Public Health France supports and amplifies the tobacco denormalization movementalready underway in France, in particular thanks to the support of the Fund to Fight Addictions. “Through this campaign, Public Health France reaffirms its desire to make the fight against smoking a priority. Without making smokers feel guilty, it shows that a tobacco-free life is not only possible, but that quitting smoking is a positive decision associated with many benefits.“, explains Viêt Nguyen-Thanh, head of the Addictions Unit at Public Health France.
- At the end of the “Welcome to a tobacco-free life” denormalization campaign, Public Health France is deploying, on social networks and with its partners, a specific device on May 31 to offer a No Tobacco Day to smokers. In order to help them as best as possible, a calendar is offered to them to be inserted into the calendar application of their smartphone. Thus, they will receive notifications to motivate them, advise them and encourage them to keep going throughout the day. These messages will also be relayed on social networks. :
- a television spot of 30 seconds divided into 3 videos of 10 seconds and broadcast on television, on replay services on mobiles, tablets and computers.
- a poster campaign for public spaces (paper or digital)
- a digital campaign with web banners and on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter),
- a special operation in written and digital press to highlight life without tobacco by testimonies from ex-smokers.
- New identity for Tabac Info Service: the information and cessation support system which answers all questions about smoking and quitting has been revamped this year. It also continues to offer free personalized support, provided by tobacco specialists who can be reached at 39 89, on the website, on Facebook or on the application of the same name, designed by Health Insurance.
History: what is the origin of No Tobacco Day?
This Day was established by the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1987 under the name “World No Tobacco Day” (or World No Tobacco Day in French).
