The tanning salons that risk giving youngsters skin cancer by selling sunbed sessions to under-18s
Tanning salons are breaking the law and letting underage teenagers in – with potentially catastrophic consequences for their health, according to an investigation by the Mail on Sunday.
Our undercover team discovered that tanning salons are illegally turning a blind eye to under-18s, who must be protected under strict laws because of the risk of skin cancer.
The disease kills six Britons every day and medical experts say young people are particularly at risk.
Campaigners also say the problem is exacerbated as young people under 18 are vulnerable to targeted social media ad campaigns, which are on the rise.
Last night MPs and campaigners were shocked by the MoS findings and called on councils to strictly enforce the ban on under-18s.
The MoS visited six tanning salons across the UK with Isabella Hicks, who turned 16 in February
The MoS approached 100 salons to book appointments for two teens, ages 16 and 18. Next, we visited six of the stores with a 16-year-old model
They say if current regulations fail to protect young people, ministers should consider a full ban on tanning beds, similar to those imposed in Australia and Brazil.
The MoS approached 100 salons to make appointments for two teenagers, ages 16 and 18. Next, we visited six of the stores with a 16-year-old model. The parlors were selected from a group that either did not say they asked for ID from the 18-year-old or suggested they let the 16-year-old in. We found:
- More than half of the 100 salons did not say the 18-year-old had to identify themselves;
- Four of the six stores we visited let our 16-year-old in;
- Sales associates drove discounts and offers for bulk purchases that allowed her to tan every day;
- The tanning trend is fueled by hundreds of ads targeting under-18s on social media app TikTok.
More than 60,000 under-18s are believed to visit the UK’s estimated 4,000 tanning salons, despite guidelines stating that customers who look under 25 should be asked for ID.
The law banning salons from selling tanning sessions to under-18s was introduced in 2011 due to growing concerns about the link between skin cancer and tanning. It says salons must take ‘all reasonable steps’ to enforce the age limit or face a fine of up to £20,000.
Our undercover team discovered that tanning salons are illegally turning a blind eye to under-18s, who must be protected by strict laws due to the risk of skin cancer
‘I’d rather die warm than live ugly’
Teens are bombarded with TikTok videos promoting tanning beds within seconds of joining the platform
Teens are bombarded with TikTok videos promoting tanning beds within seconds of joining the platform. An account set up by our reporter, who registered as a 14-year-old, was targeted by a salon after searching for tanning videos.
Within 24 hours, the homepage showed videos posted by bronzed youths. Among them was ‘Sunbed Boy’, indeed, putting up videos of himself in a salon despite claiming to be only 17. Other young users joke about their ‘addiction’ to tanning beds. One of them wrote, “It’s a problem, but I’d rather die hot than live ugly.”
Advertising watchdogs have ruled that salons should not encourage regular use or claim that tanning beds boost vitamin D. But we found hundreds of videos from salons promoting its use to boost vitamin D, clear acne, and even cure depression.
A TikTok spokesperson said: “All content appearing on TikTok must adhere to our guidelines, which do not allow medical misinformation. After reviewing the affected content, we have removed any content that violates these rules.”
But hundreds of stores are advertising their business to teens on TikTok, with the youth following trends, including #tantok, which promotes salon visits.
An account set up by the MoS reporter — who recorded his date of birth as that of a 14-year-old — was targeted by a video from a tanning salon within a minute of searching for #tantok videos.
The MoS visited six tanning salons across the UK with Isabella Hicks, who turned 16 in February. She was allowed to use tanning beds in four salons without being challenged about her age. She never used them at any point.
At Tantastic, in Maidstone, Kent, an assistant urged her to make a deal to buy ‘unlimited access’ for £55, which would allow her to use a sunbed every day. “You should do 20 minutes a day for a month,” she said. Guidelines recommend a maximum of three sessions per week. Isabella was taken for a five-minute session, which cost 80 pence per minute. Not once was she challenged.
In Bronzin, also in Maidstone, Isabella was taken to a tanning bed that cost just 90p a minute. Not a single member of staff asked her age. The salon has a TikTok account with almost 100,000 likes, on which jokes about tanning bed addiction are shared.
Beauty Temple in Loughborough sold Isabella a five-minute tanning session for 65p a minute. Again, the staff didn’t ask how old she was, despite the salon being a member of The Sunbed Association
At Streatham Tanning in London, Isabella was asked her age but was not required to provide proof. She gave a false date of birth on a form and pretended to be two years older.
Our reporting team also called 100 tanning stores. The saleswoman at Beauty Temple in Loughborough, whom we later visited, said ‘of course’ when asked if a 16-year-old could use a tanning bed. Another salon, in South London’s Bermondsey, said it was ‘OK’ for the 16-year-old to use a sunbed because their mum would be with them.
Two of the tanning salons visited correctly complied with the legal requirements.
Gillian Nuttall, founder of skin cancer charity Melanoma UK, said: ‘The tanning salons that made your 16-year-old pay for a tanning bed are a disgrace and should be prosecuted. The government must now take action to ban tanning salons.’
Gary Lipman, chairman of The Sunbed Association, said there was ‘no excuse’ for anyone under the age of 18 knowingly using a sunbed, but said what happened at Beauty Temple was ‘an isolated incident involving a member of staff was that suffering from personal stress’.
Tory MP Paul Bristow, a member of the House of Commons health committee, said: ‘When the law is broken in this way it is clear that many operators are putting making money above protecting young people.’
Martin Goodwin, director of Beauty Temple, said all tanning beds operated by the company have now been closed following our investigation.
He added that the employee in question has left the company.
Sarah Smith, a manager at Tantastic, said her understanding of the law was that customers didn’t need ID.
She added: “The staff must have thought she looked 18.”
Michelle Senior, Bronzin’s manager, said she would “look into the camera” to watch our visit, but did not comment formally.
The MoS was unable to reach Streatham Tanning’s manager despite presenting the allegations to three members of staff.