The battle between the regulators and electronic cigarettes has been going on for a while as people are still not sure whether to classify them as cigarettes or something else. The FDA wants to consider them as cigarettes as they also facilitate the inhaling of nicotine. On the other hand since a smoker can use them for non-nicotine smoking activities, this puts them out of the range of FDA limitations. The main reason why the FDA is gunning for electric cigarette is 2 fold. First; they do look like a standard tobacco cigarette, it is only upon close inspection that one sees the lack of ash and the too-smooth appearance. Another reason is that they do emit smoke or vapor like their tobacco related kin; that they do so in different fragrances ranging from fruit, cola and tobacco is another story. It is the combination of these two elements has made it attractive to those smokers who want to either quit or curb their intake whilst not losing face.

In other nations the approach varies, this is because to date there has not yet been a completed study that is globally acceptable and endorsed on the effects of e cigs. As such nations have different approaches. In the UK for example they are medically regulated, whilst in India it is allowed to sell and posses and in Holland sales is banned. In spite of all of this confusion there is an international universal element that vapor cigarettes nicotine or non-nicotine should not be sold to minors at all. In fact in New York it is illegal not only to sell but to smoke in front of any school.