The
Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco
Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the
preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health
Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a "a
world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling
for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.