Great American Smokeout

The Great American Smokeout, observed on November 20, invites people to take a meaningful step toward better health by quitting smoking—or beginning a plan to quit. It also recognizes the courage and determination involved in breaking nicotine dependence, while encouraging friends, family, and communities to offer understanding and support.

Whether someone is ready to quit completely or is simply thinking about making a change, the day is an opportunity to learn about helpful resources, set personal goals, and celebrate progress. Every smoke-free moment matters, and the Great American Smokeout reminds us that support and a fresh start can make the journey feel more achievable.

The Great American Smokeout originated as a grassroots effort to draw attention to the health dangers of smoking and encourage people to quit, even if only for a single day. One early predecessor took place in Randolph, Massachusetts, in 1970, when residents were asked to give up cigarettes for a day and donate the money they would have spent on tobacco to a scholarship fund. The idea demonstrated that a community-based challenge could turn smoking cessation into a visible public event.

The campaign developed further in California during the 1970s. In 1974, the California Division of the American Cancer Society organized a statewide “Don’t Smoke Day,” helping establish the model of asking smokers to stop temporarily while providing information about quitting. In 1976, the American Cancer Society brought the concept to a national audience, creating the Great American Smokeout as a coordinated public-health observance. Observed on November 20, it became an annual opportunity to focus national attention on tobacco use and cessation.

Over time, the Great American Smokeout evolved from a one-day pledge into a broader quitting initiative. Health organizations, workplaces, schools, medical professionals, and community groups have used the observance to distribute cessation resources, promote counseling and support programs, and encourage smokers to set a quit date. Its message also expanded alongside public-health research to address cigarettes, secondhand smoke, nicotine dependence, and the importance of evidence-based tools such as behavioral support and approved cessation medications.

Culturally, the Great American Smokeout helped shift smoking from being viewed primarily as a personal habit to being recognized as a major public-health issue affecting individuals, families, and communities. It contributed to wider conversations about tobacco advertising, smoke-free public spaces, youth prevention, and the protection of nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. By framing quitting as a shared national effort on November 20, the observance continues to offer smokers a practical starting point and reinforces the idea that even a temporary decision to stop can lead toward lasting change.