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Science News: World No Tobacco Day

– G.A., Senior Editor

Every year since 1989, the World Health Organization has recognized May 31 as World No Tobacco Day. This year, the theme of World No Tobacco Day is "Tobacco – a threat to development." The WHO aims to highlight the threat that the tobacco industry poses to the health and economic well-being of the citizens of all countries.

As the social costs of tobacco use are felt acutely worldwide, World No Tobacco Day offers all countries the opportunity to reflect on their current tobacco policy. In Japan, tobacco policy has come under increasing scrutiny due to the approaching 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Many are calling for the banning of all smoking from indoor spaces.

Japan wouldn’t be the first country to revise tobacco policy prior to hosting the Olympics. Both Beijing and London took steps to curb public smoking before hosting the Summer Olympics. However, as the Tokyo Games are still more than 3 years away, it is currently unclear what, if any, changes will be made.

In light of the WHO’s efforts to highlight the harmful effects of tobacco use on development, changes to Japan’s tobacco policy could also encourage similar changes in developing countries in Asia that could not only save thousands of lives, but also reduce the burden on underdeveloped health care systems.

Click here for the Japanese version.

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