UK MPs Urge Sunbed Ad Ban After Report Links Use Before 35 to 60% Higher Melanoma Risk
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 13
UK MPs Urge Sunbed Ad Ban After Report Links Use Before 35 to 60% Higher Melanoma Risk
5 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 13
Cross-party MPs want sunbed advertising banned and cancer warnings made mandatory in shops, with cigarette-style images displayed in tanning salons to deter use.
A year-long parliamentary report said most skin cancer cases are preventable and found using a sunbed before age 35 raises the risk of melanoma—the deadliest form—by 60%.
The group said government plans for stricter rules, including mandatory ID checks to keep under-18s off sunbeds, do not go far enough and should be expanded into broader public education.
Its recommendations also target online misinformation and affordability, urging use of the Online Safety Act against false sunbed claims and removal of VAT on children's and high-SPF sun creams.
Seven people die each day from melanoma in the UK, while the Sunbed Association said the sector is already tightly regulated and should not be treated like tobacco.
Will treating sunbeds like cigarettes finally change a culture that equates a tan with health?
Could a simple tax cut on sunscreen be the key to saving the NHS millions from skin cancer?
Towards a Sunbed Ban: The UK’s 2026-2027 Policy Shift to Reduce Skin Cancer and Save Lives
Overview
The UK is approaching a crucial period for sunbed regulation, with major policy changes and consultations expected between 2026 and 2027. Current laws are considered too lenient, as they only ban sunbed use for those under 18 and lack requirements for ID checks, supervision, or health risk information. This relaxed approach is under increasing scrutiny because 11% of people in the UK use sunbeds, exposing many—especially young people—to a known cancer risk. The upcoming policy shifts aim to strengthen protections, improve public health, and reduce cancer rates by addressing these regulatory gaps.