Put On Your Party Pants, Man. It’s No Tobacco Day!

Hey, it’s May 31st.

Bet you didn’t know that today has been designated No Tobacco Day by the World Health Organization. To show our support, we thought we’d give you a quick rundown of the electronic cigarette situation across the pond.

The e-cig scene is smoking’ (sorry) hot and alive with controversy. In fact, it’s a lot like the e-cig situation here in the States: a big ol’ debate. In the EU, just like here, the masses love e-cigs and governments aren’t sold on the idea.

Some legislators (particularly the Nordic varieties, it seems) have gone on the offensive, targeting the electronic cigarette industry for termination. Denmark has basically banned e-cigs by designating them as medical devices and then refusing to license their sale. Um, passive-aggressive much, Denmark?

Finland, on the other hand, has outlawed e-cig marketing but not the product itself — an interesting, if flawed, eradication strategy.

And despite having bigger things to worry about, Greece’s government is busy issuing hysterical warnings to e-cig users. The country’s Labour Inspection Department claims that e-cigs’ liquid nicotine is toxic and could cause health and environmental issues. There’s no proof of that, of course, but the Labour folks are still rattling their sabers.

Other EU member countries can’t decide what to do about e-cigs, or are still licking their wounds after losing the battle against them. British citizens are racing to switch to e-cigs (current estimates put the jump rate at about 1 out of 3 smokers), but that didn’t stop the government from trying to ban e-cigs in 2010. Fail.

Other countries are using rather half-assed regulation strategies. Ireland, for example, decided that pharmacists can’t sell e-cigs, but other places can. Pick a path, dudes.

Check out Jason Welch’s e-cig/EU roundup for more details on the legislative craziness overseas.

In the meantime, Happy No Tobacco Day. Celebrate well, guys.