BBC Watchdog: Should sunbeds have an age restriction?

Tony

What Consumer Founder
Apr 7, 2008
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Bolton
Many young people could be damaging their health by using sunbeds according to recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidance which has placed them in the highest risk category for causing cancer. So we sent 16 year old Eastenders actress Melissa Suffield to investigate.

The WHO says sun beds should only be used by those aged 18 and over. It's illegal for children under 18 to use them in France and California and it will be illegal for under 18s to use them in Scotland from December. However, in the rest of the UK there are no laws to stop children using a sunbed whenever they want.

Around six million people use sun beds every year in the UK and as many as 100 people get melanoma from them. A young person regularly using sunbeds is about 75% more likely to get this fatal form of skin cancer.

Despite this, the UK's top five health clubs all have sunbeds. Were they bothered about the ages of those who used them and what would they say about the risks? We sent two 17 year olds to find out.

Esporta and Virgin Active only let over 18s on their sunbeds and they display health warnings. That's the official policy at LA Fitness too. But two other chains do allow 16 and 17 year olds onto their beds. Those are Bannatynes run by Dragons' Den presenter Duncan Bannatyne and Fitness First which is the largest chain in Britain.

Our 17 year olds visited 20 branches of Fitness First. In two-thirds of the gyms, they didn't see any signs warning them about the dangers to their skin. Instead, the gyms displayed leaflets and posters promoting the health benefits of sun beds. The leaflets claimed that the Vitamin D you get from a sunbed will improve your immune system, decrease your cholesterol level and relieve osteoporosis. We checked these claims with doctors who say they have no validity whatsoever. You can get all the Vitamin D you need from a few minutes in the sun every week.

One leaflet does say in the small print that Fitness First recognises the risks and provides guidance for all users. But this didn't happen in more than half of the branches we went to. Staff failed to carry out the skin check or monitor how long or how often our 17 year olds used their beds.

The risks from sunbeds couldn't be clearer. So why did we find so many gyms ignoring them? And what's more, although they've all got different policies for under 18s they all agree they wouldn't let under 16s on their beds. But some did.

We went undercover again, this time sending a 15 year old to the top five gyms. Again, Esporta and Virgin Active wouldn't let them near their sunbeds. But two out of five branches of LA Fitness did despite their over-18 policies, as did two of five Bannatynes clubs. Three of them checked the age and she was refused. But the other two allowed the 15 year old to use a sun bed. She did have to fill out a form saying she was over 16. But on a separate form she gave them her date of birth making clear she wasn't. And nobody checked.

But again it was Fitness First who fared worst. Four out of the five branches visited let our 15 year old on their sunbeds.

Even Fitness First's own medical adviser is critical of sun beds. Last July, Dr Hilary Jones told GMTV viewers "Certainly for under-18s we know it's very harmful and probably should be banned in that age group. But I think we need health warnings in these salons, we need to close the ones that are unstaffed, we need to close the coin-operated salons, and we need health warnings to say 'look you are taking a risk with your health".

Nina Goad from the British Association of Dermatologists told us, "I think this investigation definitely raises the question of whether some companies are putting profits above the health of their clients. We're already putting pressure on the government to introduce legislation. As a result of seeing this footage we would actually be asking them whether it's appropriate to have sunbeds in gyms at all."


Fitness First has told us:

"Fitness First regards the health and safety of its members as a top priority. Although we have a comprehensive policy in place regarding the safe use of sun beds we acknowledge that we may have fallen short of our own exacting standards. As of July this year, we have been reviewing our current operational procedures regarding customer screening and access to the sun bed facilities in the knowledge that the government of England is considering proposals to ban people under the age of 18 from using sun beds. As a result of your investigation, we have made the decision to bring the implementation of our new procedures forward, launching mid September.

Fitness First has operated a policy of access to sun bed facilities to all suitable users over the age of 16yrs. In July this year Fitness First restricted access to sun beds to over 18s only in Scotland, in line with the recent changes to Scottish law. From mid Sept, Fitness First will be operating a policy of non-admittance to all under 18s wishing to use the sunned facilities. This will be underpinned by improved operational procedures.

As members, Fitness First liaises directly with the Sunbed Association for ongoing advice on the risks and benefits associated with sunbed use. Fitness First also consults Dr Hilary Jones who says: "It is widely recognised that inappropriate and excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunbeds or indeed natural sunlight can contribute to cancer. But equally so do other lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol, smoking, taking certain medications, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and obesity, all of which can be positively influenced by regular gym membership. Ultraviolet radiation can however also have therapeutic medical benefits by correcting reduced Vitamin D levels (associated with rickets, depression and multiple sclerosis), by increasing levels of the so-called happy hormone serotonin (to enhance mood) and in the treatment of the common skin disorder psoriasis. Provided those using the sunbeds are aware of the relative risks, employ informed choice and use sunbeds in moderation there is no good reason to make them less available to those who make that personal choice.''

Bannatyne's Health Club has told us:

Bannatynes has always had a policy of not allowing under 16 year olds to use our sunbeds. As soon as Watchdog brought the COMARE (Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment) guidelines to the attention of senior management, Bannatynes introduced a ban on under 18 year olds using sunbeds.

COMARE does not recommend the removal of sunbeds from Health Clubs but says that the dangers of their use should be made clear to customers. This is something Bannatynes already does. Bannatynes believes that it is the abuse, not the use, of sunbeds that presents danger and has trained staff on hand at all times to ensure a safe environment, where customers can be educated about sunbeds.

Trained members of staff regulate use and have banned customers from sunbeds when appropriate. There are clear guidelines and warnings about the dangers of overuse at all Bannatynes clubs and the number of sunbeds in clubs has fallen recently, as Bannatynes encourages the use of Spray Tanning Booths as an alternative [last two years: 7 sunbeds removed, 27 Spray Tan Booths introduced]

The 15 year old girl signed disclaimer forms for use of sunbeds, stating she was over the age of 16. She ignored the safety warnings on the sunbeds, which state that no-one under the age of 16 is allowed to use them. She did complete a membership form, with a correct date of birth, at both clubs. This is an issue relating to membership, not sunbed use, but the membership is dated to start on 26.09.09, as per the girl's dated signature.
The COMARE report explains that definitive data on deaths from sunbed use is impossible to obtain due to the confounding effect of sun exposure. It goes on to estimate that sunbeds may account for up to 100 deaths per year. In a properly regulated and supervised environment, like the one provided by Bannatynes, this risk is reduced dramatically.
As part of its commitment to customer care and education, Bannatynes has banned sunbed use for under 18s. This will ensure that all sunbed use will be by adults making informed decisions and help to avoid any cases where underage people can access the sunbeds.
LA Fitness told us:

"From 3 August 2009 LA fitness stopped selling sunbed sessions to both members and guests who are under the age of 18. Customers aged 16-18 who had already booked sessions have to use these by 20 October 2009. We do have a clear age policy (you now have to be aged 18, it was previously 16) and we took this proactive step after guidance from the HSE and the Sunbed Association. We are clearly very concerned that a couple of our clubs have not followed our own strict guidelines. Re-training of these clubs (and a fresh briefing to all clubs) has now been undertaken with the aim of this bad practice not happening again. LA fitness reviews it's policy with regard to sunbed usage on an ongoing basis. We consider all the information we have available including customer choice, advice/guidance from the HSE and Sunbed Association to make informed decisions on this policy.When we feel we need to make changes to protect the interests and safety of our members we do so (a recent example being the increase in usage age from 16 to 18). We also adhere to our legal obligations and best practice by providing clear communication to members and guests on the safe use of sunbeds and age restrictions which are in place"

The Sunbed Association has told us:

Bannatynes, Esporta and Virgin Active are not members of The Sun Bed Association (TSA). However, Virgin Active have purchased the Sun Bed Association training programme for all their clubs. LA Fitness have membership for one club - Northwood. Fitness First have corporate membership for all their clubs. They have been in membership since February 2000. All TSA members operate to TSA's Code of Practice and demonstrate compliance through inspections of their premises. As with any trade association, membership of TSA is voluntary.

TSA has always had a minimum age restriction in its Code of Practice, currently no-one under 16 years not even with parental consent. There is no medical or scientific evidence (in terms of skin type) why 16 and 17 year olds should not use sunbeds and the recommendation of no-one under 18 years has come from a position of choice and responsibility. However, if governments introduce a legal ban on under 18s in England and Wales, which we believe will happen, TSA will not oppose it since the governments will opt for 18 years and not 16 years. TSA will of course amend its Code of Practice to no-one under 18 years to come into line with legal requirements. Since it is almost certain that a legal ban on under 18s will be introduced throughout the UK, TSA does not see sunbed use by under 18s as an issue. The reality is that tanning outlets in general do not have a significant number of customers aged 16 or 17 years and do not have children under 16 years trying to use their facilities.

What do you think - should sun beds carry an age restriction? Leave your comments below.




Should sunbeds have an age restriction?