STORY
The Government has launched a consultation on new rules requiring mandatory age checks for sunbed use in England. Ministers said the proposals are intended to stop under-18s using commercial sunbeds and to strengthen existing protections against skin cancer risks.
Under the plans, staff would need to be present to check identification before customers use sunbeds, closing loopholes linked to contactless and unsupervised systems. The Government also wants clearer health warnings and a ban on misleading claims that sunbeds can help with weight loss or prevent sunburn.
Public Health and Prevention Minister Sharon Hodgson said children as young as 14 were still accessing sunbeds illegally and that the Government wanted to prevent cancer before it starts. The consultation will run until 14 August 2026, with new rules potentially introduced in 2027.