UK Proposes New Laws To Crack Down On Underage Sunbed Use
· news
A Tanning Taboo That’s Long Overdue
The UK Government has proposed new laws aimed at cracking down on underage access to sunbeds in beauty salons. The legislation, currently under consultation, would require staff to verify customers’ ages before allowing them to use these cancer-causing machines.
The move is long overdue, given the alarming statistics on skin cancer rates in the UK. In 2023, there were nearly a quarter of a million new diagnoses, with costs to the NHS estimated at £750 million annually. The evidence is clear: sunbeds pose a significant risk to public health, particularly for young people whose skin is more vulnerable to damage.
The existing rules prohibiting under-18s from using sunbeds are being exploited by salons that rely on contactless systems allowing customers to use the facilities without staff checks. This loophole has enabled teenagers as young as 14 to gain access to these hazardous machines, often with disastrous consequences for their health. The proposed new laws would close this gap by making ID checks mandatory and enforcing stricter regulations around health warnings and advertising.
The Government’s move is part of its national cancer plan, which aims to see one in three cancer patients cancer-free or living well five years after diagnosis. While the ambition is laudable, it’s crucial that public awareness campaigns are not seen as a substitute for robust regulation. The skin cancer charity Skcin has welcomed the consultation, describing mandatory ID checks and clearer health warnings as “positive and necessary steps” towards improving public safety.
Critics argue that the proposals don’t go far enough. Some salons may find ways to circumvent the new rules, while others will continue to peddle misleading information about sunbeds’ benefits. Jules Worrall, interim chief executive at Teenage Cancer Trust, warns of “harmful misinformation” promoting sunbed use and advocates for stronger regulation.
One pressing question surrounding these proposals is what constitutes a “young adult.” The current distinction between 18-year-olds and their younger counterparts seems arbitrary, given that adults are also vulnerable to the dangers of sunbed use. It’s time to reevaluate our attitudes towards tanning and acknowledge that even adults are not immune to its risks.
The consultation period, which closes at the end of the year, offers an opportunity for stakeholders to weigh in on these proposals. The Government must listen to the experts’ warnings about the risks of sunbeds and respond with measures that will truly make a difference. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty towards the health and well-being of citizens.
Ultimately, it’s not just about preventing children from accessing sunbeds – although that is crucial. It’s also about recognizing the broader cultural shift needed to prevent skin cancer from becoming an even more insidious public health problem. By taking a more robust approach to regulation, the Government can help drive this change and reduce the number of people affected by skin cancer each year.
Reader Views
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
While applauding the UK's proposed laws to curb underage sunbed use, one can't help but wonder: what about enforcement? The onus is clearly on beauty salons to comply with ID checks and health warnings, but how will this be monitored and policed? A system of regular inspections and fines for non-compliance would be a more effective deterrent than relying solely on self-regulation. Without robust enforcement, these new laws risk becoming toothless measures that only serve to placate public pressure without truly addressing the issue.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The proposed laws aim to curb underage sunbed use by requiring salons to verify customers' ages, but what about online tanning communities where teenagers are still freely sharing their own DIY sunbed recipes and tips? The government's focus on physical salons overlooks the digital avenues young people are using to access these hazardous products. Until we address this gap in regulation, it seems like a patchwork solution that will only drive underground use of these cancer-causing machines even further.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
While the proposed laws are a step in the right direction, they still fail to address the elephant in the room: the widespread availability of DIY sunbeds sold online and in high-street stores. These unregulated machines can be just as deadly as their salon counterparts, but with far fewer safety checks and no staff oversight. A more comprehensive approach would be to regulate the sale of home sunbeds, not just those used in commercial settings.