Non-smoking is new norm worldwide – WHO

MANILA, Philippines - Non-smoking is becoming a new norm worldwide, a study of the World Health Organization (WHO) showed.

In its latest Global Report on Trends in Tobacco Smoking, WHO said there was a reduction in tobacco use and an increase in the number of non-smokers.

The study, published in The Lancet, showed the prevalence of smoking among men has dropped in 125 countries and in 156 countries for women between 2000 and 2010.

However, only 37 countries are on track to achieve the 30 percent tobacco reduction target set out in the Global Action Plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases from 2013 to 2020.

The WHO report also showed that 3.9 billion of the 5.1 billion aged 15 and older in WHO member-states were non-smokers. The number is expected to hit five billion this year if the current pace in the reduction of tobacco use continues.

WHO said it is an indication that countries are making inroads, but stressed the need for more action to curb the tobacco epidemic. The global target is to cut tobacco consumption by 30 percent by 2025 to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases.

“In an ominous trend, in some countries the battle between tobacco and health has moved into the courts,” said WHO director general Margaret Chan.