UK public backs sunbed ban for under 18s
UK public backs sunbed ban for under 18s
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Thursday, 16, Jul 2009 12:07
The vast majority of the British public backs proposals to stop under-18s from using sunbeds, new research claims.
A survey by Cancer Research UK shows that 90 per cent of people want salons to be staffed at all time to prevent children from using them.
Ninety-one per cent have also called for health information to be provided to all users regarding the risk in using sunbeds.
Sarah Woolnough, Cancer Research UK's head of policy, said: "These results show the overwhelming support from the public for laws to be introduced to ensure that sunbeds are properly regulated and that people are aware of the dangers of using sunbeds.
"Cancer Research UK is calling for England, Northern Ireland and Wales to follow in the footsteps of Scotland and stop under-18s from using sunbeds, close salons that aren't supervised by trained staff and ensure information about the risks of using sunbeds is given to all customers.
"The rates of malignant melanoma - the deadliest form of skin cancer - are rapidly rising in the UK and experts believe that, along with binge tanning on foreign holidays, using sunbeds is one of the main reasons. Legislation would be a fantastic step in the right direction to help prevent people developing the disease."
Calls for a ban on children using the beds escalated earlier this year when a 14-year-old Welsh girl suffered 70 per cent burns to her body after using an unstaffed salon.
Kirsty McRae spent 19 minutes on the coin-operated sunbed without any supervision and had to be taken to hospital shortly afterward after suffering first degree burns.