Young people will be better protected from skin cancer under new government proposals to tighten rules on commercial sunbed use, tackling rogue businesses that sell sessions to under‑18s in breach of the law.
Set to be included in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, the measures would ban unsupervised sessions, introduce mandatory ID checks to verify users are over 18, and strengthen enforcement to stop salons flouting the law. The move is designed to reduce avoidable cancer risks and help make England a world leader in cancer survival.
Recent investigations show teenagers as young as 14 are gaining access to tanning salons, despite the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 banning under‑18s from commercial sunbeds and requiring businesses to prevent their use by children. There are inherent risks from exposure to UV radiation emitted by sunbeds, and the World Health Organisation classes sunbeds as being as dangerous as smoking. Using a sunbed before the age of 20 increases the risk of melanoma skin cancer by 47% compared to those who have never used one.
Alongside preventing harm, the government says the measures will support a sustainable NHS, cutting demand by tackling risk factors before they lead to serious illness. In 2023, there were almost a quarter of a million new skin cancer diagnoses in the UK, costing the NHS an estimated £750 million per year.
The forthcoming consultation will seek views on a package of changes, including:
- Mandatory ID checks to confirm users are 18+, ending casual access and weak verification.
- A ban on unsupervised sessions, ensuring trained staff are on hand to check eligibility and intervene where necessary.
- Stronger enforcement against rogue operators selling to minors, with clearer compliance expectations and consistent penalties.
- Public information improvements to raise awareness of the cancer risks associated with sunbed use.
The government will also launch a call for evidence on whether further action is justified to reduce cases of melanoma, given persistent low awareness and high risk among young people.
Karin Smyth, Health Minister, said:
“Stronger protections on sunbeds are needed so people understand risks that could have deadly consequences.
“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.
“These proposals will crack down on rogue operators and ensure the law is properly enforced. Prevention saves lives, and we will do everything we can to protect people from avoidable cancers.”
Despite the risks, public awareness remains low. Polling from Melanoma Focus shows only 62% of adults know that sunbeds increase cancer risk, while nearly a quarter of 18–25‑year‑olds wrongly believe sunbeds reduce their risk. Proposals under the National Cancer Plan aim to improve accurate understanding of UV harms, particularly among younger audiences.
The consultation will invite evidence from businesses, including the many SMEs operating in the tanning sector. The government says it will balance protections with the impact on businesses, using the consultation to understand costs and practicalities so that any new rules are proportionate, enforceable and deliver meaningful improvements to public safety.
The crackdown on illegal and unsafe sunbed practices forms part of the government’s wider prevention focus in the National Cancer Plan, which will set out ambitions to reduce lives lost to cancer through earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and targeted action on avoidable risks.
By tightening safeguards, improving compliance and raising awareness, the proposals seek to protect children, reduce long‑term cancer risk, and support a healthier, better‑informed public.
Image credit: iStock
