History Today: How Bhutan became the first country to go tobacco-free

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16-06-2025

Bhutan, the world's happiest nation, was also the first one to impose a complete ban on tobacco and its products on June 16, 2010. On this day in 1963, the Soviet Union's Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to go to space read more
Bhutan became the first nation to impose a complete ban on tobacco. File image
Tobacco is banned in many places today.
But this was not the case 20 years ago when smoking tobacco products was common in public spaces in nearly all countries.
This changed on June 16, 2010, when Bhutan decided to ban tobacco, becoming the first nation to do so. It also prohibited the cultivation, manufacture and supply of tobacco.
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Soviet Union's Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space on this day in 1963. June 16 also witnessed the opening of the world's first purpose-built roller coaster for amusement in Brooklyn, New York.
Here is all that took place on this day around the globe.
Bhutan became the first country to ban tobacco
Bhutan made global headlines on June 16, 2010, by becoming the first country in the world to impose a complete ban on tobacco and its products. The nation brought the comprehensive Tobacco Control Act that effectively banned the sale, production and distribution of tobacco products.
The landmark legislation also prohibited smoking in public places. The ban aligned with Bhutan's unique philosophy of 'Gross National Happiness', which prioritised spiritual and environmental well-being over purely economic growth. While personal use of tobacco was not entirely illegal, individuals were required to present official receipts and pay hefty taxes on tobacco products brought into the country for personal consumption. Violators faced severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment.
Bhutan's rationale behind the ban was public health and spirituality. As a Buddhist nation, smoking was seen as a violation of religious principles. Furthermore, the government aimed to curb rising health risks linked to tobacco use, such as cancer and heart disease , especially among the youth.
Despite the ban, Bhutan's strict anti-tobacco stance faced several practical challenges. A black market for tobacco emerged, leading to increased smuggling and enforcement issues. The restrictions were also criticised for disproportionately affecting low-income individuals and creating loopholes for corruption.
Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space
On this day in 1963, Valentina Tereshkova was launched into space by the Soviet Union, becoming the first woman to ever travel beyond Earth's atmosphere. On board the Soviet spacecraft Vostok 6, Tereshkova orbited the Earth 48 times for nearly three days. With her spaceflight, she broke gender barriers in a field that had been dominated by men until this time .
Valentina Tereshkova is pictured as seen in a television transmission from her space craft, Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963. File image/AP
Tereshkova was a former textile factory worker and amateur parachutist who caught the attention of Soviet space authorities during a recruitment drive for female cosmonauts. She was chosen from more than 400 applicants due to her skydiving experience and strong political background, being an active member of the Communist Party. At just 26 years old, she was launched into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
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Codenamed 'Chaika' (Seagull), Tereshkova maintained a flight log, conducted scientific observations on the effects of weightlessness on the female body and even took photographs of the Earth's horizon that were later used for atmospheric research.
Tereshkova's remarkable achievement was a significant propaganda victory for the Soviet Union, highlighting its technological prowess and commitment to equality. Upon her safe return on June 19, 1963, Tereshkova became a national hero and was also celebrated globally for her ground-breaking feat.
The first roller coaster opens in US
It was on this day that the United States saw the opening of its first roller coaster designed purely for amusement at the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. It was the brainchild of inventor LaMarcus Adna Thompson, often referred to as the 'Father of the American Roller Coaster.'
The Switchback Railway was nothing like the roller coaster rides that we have today. It consisted of two parallel tracks, each about 600 feet long. Riders would ascend a 50-foot tower, board cars with sideways-facing benches, and then rely on gravity to coast down one track at leisurely six miles per hour. At the end, the cars had to be manually switched to the parallel track and pulled back up another 50-foot incline for the return journey.
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Inspired by mining railways and gravity railroads used for transporting coal in Pennsylvania, Thompson's creation was as much an engineering marvel as it was a novel form of entertainment. The ride became instantly popular, drawing thousands of curious New Yorkers eager to experience the sensation of mechanical motion for pleasure rather than utility.
The success of the Switchback Railway sparked a boom in roller coaster construction across the United States and Europe. Over the next decades, engineers and inventors would develop more sophisticated and faster rides, turning roller coasters into a central attraction of amusement parks worldwide.
This Day, That Year
Liu Yang became the first Chinese woman in space in 2012.
On this day in 1911, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) was incorporated.
The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903.