Environmental Health staff from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have welcomed the steps taken by local businesses to stop persons aged under 18 from using sunbeds at their premises.
Over recent months, council staff carried out test purchases in ten businesses which provide sunbeds and found one sale to a person aged under 18.
It is illegal for under-18s to use a sunbed on commercial premises, and it is the responsibility of the local council to enforce these laws.
A spokesperson for ABC Council said their Environmental Health staff remain committed to enforcing the legislation as well as highlighting the potential health risks of tanning beds, to both young people and parents.
“The risks of using sunbeds are very real and very serious. Using a sunbed, even once at any stage during your life increases your risk of developing melanoma by 20% compared to someone who has never used a sunbed. And this risk increases by 1.8% with each additional time you use a sunbed,” said the council spokesperson.
“We remain committed to the inspection of sunbed premises in our borough and welcome the fact that the vast majority of our local businesses are compliant, but we don’t want to see any sales at all to people aged under 18 and we will continue to work towards that.
“Businesses that don’t follow the law on sunbeds are issued with a fixed penalty notice of £250 and non-payment can result in a court case, and if convicted, this can result in a fine up to £5,000.”
For further information on sunbed safety legislation – please visit www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/business/sunbed-safety/ If you have any concerns about a sunbed business in your area, please contact the Environmental Health Department at the Council on 0330 056 1011.
