The author provides an overview of the World Conference on Tobacco Control, held in August 1997 in Beijing, along with current data on global tobacco consumption broken down by gender, a country’s level of industrial development, its domestic tobacco production, and standard of living. Annual per capita tobacco consumption is presented in the form of a ranking of the top countries. This allows for a comparison of trends over a ten-year period between developed and developing countries. The conference’s first resolution draws on data regarding smoking-related mortality to underscore the need to combat this scourge. This fight must focus on tobacco pricing, advertising restrictions, and smoking cessation support, which requires training healthcare professionals in cessation methods and the follow-up of smokers.