Unsupervised sunbed sessions will be banned and mandatory ID checks introduced under new Government proposals after investigations revealed teenagers as young as 14 are routinely accessing tanning salons despite existing laws prohibiting under-18s from using the equipment.
The measures form part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan and aim to crack down on rogue operators who continue to sell sunbed sessions to children, putting them at significantly increased risk of developing skin cancer.
Under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010, it is already illegal for under-18s to use commercial sunbeds, but evidence suggests the law is being widely flouted. Polling from charity Melanoma Focus indicates that 34 per cent of 16 to 17-year-olds have used sunbeds despite the ban.
The World Health Organization has classified sunbeds as dangerous as smoking. According to WHO data, using a sunbed before the age of 20 increases the risk of melanoma skin cancer by 47 per cent compared to those who have never used one.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said stronger protections were needed so people understood risks “that could have deadly consequences.”
She added: “The evidence is clear: there is no safe level of sunbed use, yet too many young people are being exposed to a known carcinogen with little understanding of the risks.”
Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at NHS England, said: “A sunbed tan might only last a few weeks, but the damage can last a lifetime.”
Susanna Daniels, Chief Executive of Melanoma Focus, welcomed the proposals, noting that melanoma is now the fifth most common cancer in the UK and rates have risen considerably.
Public awareness of the dangers remains low. Polling shows only 62 per cent of adults know sunbed use increases cancer risk, while nearly a quarter of 18 to 25-year-olds wrongly believe sunbeds reduce their risk of cancer.
In 2023, there were almost 250,000 new skin cancer diagnoses in the UK, costing the NHS an estimated £750 million annually.
A consultation is expected to launch in spring 2026, with new rules potentially coming into force as soon as 2027. The Government will also seek views from businesses operating in the tanning industry and launch a separate call for evidence on whether further action to reduce melanoma cases is justified.
