CHILDREN as young as eight are putting their health at risk by using sunbeds.
Three per cent of eight to 15-year-olds - or 170,000 young people - have used a sunbed despite accepted health advice about the dangers.
The figure rises to 13 per cent among 16 and 17-year-olds, says Which? magazine.
The industry's governing body, The Sunbed Association (TSA), has told salons to ban under-16s and advise those with fair skin to avoid the machines. However, its members make up only a quarter of Britain's 6,000 operators.
Which? sent undercover researchers to 10 salons, including one TSA member, in Cheshire, Lancashire, Essex and Hertfordshire and found that many staff at salons failed to warn customers about the health risks.
Health warnings
Some had posters with health warnings or asked customers to fill out a questionnaire to assess their skin type.
All 10 salons gave the dangerous advice that someone with very pale skin could use a sunbed.
Just three gave a verbal warning about the risks, while two salons that failed to warn of health risks were in council-run leisure centres.
Statistics from Cancer Research UK suggest that people who start using sunbeds under the age of 35 increase their risk of skin cancer by 75 per cent.
The charity is calling for legislation to prevent under-18s using sunbeds. A government review is under way.
Earlier this month, the M.E.N. reported how the family of young Salford mum Zita Farrelly, who died after using tanning beds twice a day for seven years, has welcomed proposed changes in the law.
Which? editor Neil Fowler said: "Despite the dangers of sunbed use, a shocking number of children told us that they've used one. The industry needs to protect those most at risk."
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Salons should ban under 18 use of sunbeds in their premises.
If kids want to grill themselves, and if their parents do not care, why should we?
Quite agree Alvin - as long as they're using legally obtained cash to pay for it, why should we care if the parents don't ?
Alvin/Pippa: because we will have to pay for their treatment later in life! No man is an island entire unto himself. Ask not for whom the bell tolls - it tolls for thee!
We not only have to pay for their treatment, but should these kids die of cancer in their 20s and 30s as a result, they'll also likely leave kids of their own behind and requiring state care.
If you say 'if their parents don't mind, let them do it' you might as well say 'if their parents don't mind them drinking bleach for breakfast / playing on a motorway / juggling with chainsaws at the age of eight, let them'. Parents have a duty of care over their own child and have a responsibility not to expose them to obvious harm.
I agree Jo parents have a duty of care and responsibility towards their children;if you are going to liberal in your attitudes and let them do whatever they like(regardless of the risks/dangers to themselves)then basically you're inadequate parents and you're not fit to have kids simple as.
The parents should be the onces held to blame and punished.
It's not as if they can be unaware of what their kids are doing..is it.