It's 'No Tobacco Day 2014'. Hooray.
It is often said there are too many 'days' dedicated to this that and the other. And I think this rather proves the point. Not because the World Health Organisation (who are behind the event) shouldn't have an interest or concern in a popular drug which causes serious illness and death on a grand scale, but because the notion of a special 'no' day strikes me as rather futile.
The very nature of a day is that it is 24-hours long. Indeed, that's the definition of a day. So presumably all activities associated with this initiative will come to an end at midnight. That seems an odd way to tackle a serious health issue.
For example, Indonesia has embraced the whole shebang with gusto, banning the sale of tobacco products for the day-long period. On the face of it, that comes over as a worthy action - reducing sales, impacting on the industry and so on. But will that really be the outcome? Any Indonesian addicted to nicotine will, presumably, have stocked up on fags yesterday - and will then nip out tomorrow and grab some more. Also, it is not actually illegal to consume tobacco in Indonesia today, so smoking levels will almost certainly remain steady.
"Smoking is a diminishing habit, no doubt about it."
Elsewhere, anti-smoking groups are using the occasion to re-iterate their message and promote their cause. These campaigners unsettle me. Of course I agree that nobody should be forced to inhale the fumes produced by another person, without consent - whether those fumes are produced by a car or a cigar. However, to spend so much of one's time, effort and money actively attempting to prevent your fellow citizens from enjoying a perfectly legal and heavily taxed indulgence, smacks of overbearing and judgemental interference.
WHO's 'No Tobacco Day 2014' shouldn't be confused with 'No Smoking Day'. This is a separate event, held in the UK since 1984, and designed to help people quit the tobacco habit. For anyone who wishes to stop smoking, this support is undoubtedly useful - but why seize upon a specific day? Wouldn't the cost of promoting the date be better invested in more and better programmes?
Smoking is a diminishing habit, no doubt about it. Fewer and fewer people are taking it up, the places in which one can light up are increasingly limited and smokers are viewed with increasing disdain (despite the extra taxation they send to the exchequer each year). To that extent, the anti-smoking lobby is achieving its aims. I just have to wonder whether that is a result of changing social norms, greater awareness of personal health and fewer role models being seen to smoke, as opposed to the grand gesture of a nominated 'day'.
Now, where did I put my cigs?
Magnus Shaw is a copywriter, blogger and consultant
