No Smoking Day in the UK Date in the current year: March 13, 2024

The first No Smoking Day in the UK was held on Ash Wednesday in 1984. This day was chosen because Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity. During Lent, people are expected to give up certain types of luxuries. Smoking is considered one of the luxuries.

In some time, No Smoking Day was moved to the second Wednesday in March. The No Smoking Day campaign is currently run by British Heart Foundation, the number one heart charity in the UK. It focuses on helping smokers quit by providing advice and creating a supportive environment.

There are over 10 million smokers in the United Kingdom. Around 100,000 people die every year from smoking-related causes such as cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, many forms of cancer. Smokers lose an average of 13-14 years of life.

No Smoking Day in the UK should not be confused with other health awareness days and events that focus on quitting smoking: World No Tobacco Day (May 31), National No Smoking Day in the Republic of Ireland (Ash Wednesday), Great American Smokeout (the third Thursday in November).