UMVA has learned that the government is taking bold steps to crack down on the use of sunbeds, particularly among young people, in a bid to prevent skin cancer and protect public health.
The proposed new rules would require staff to be present and check a customer’s ID before they can use a sunbed, effectively banning under-18s from using these potentially deadly devices. This move is part of a broader effort to close loopholes that have allowed businesses to circumvent existing regulations.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the government is determined to make sure anyone who uses a sunbed knows exactly what they’re risking. The public, businesses, local authorities, and experts have until the end of the consultation period to have their say, with new rules potentially in place as early as next year.
A leading health expert has emphasized that sunbeds are not a harmless shortcut to a tan, but a cancer risk that should be taken seriously. With skin cancer now the most common cancer in the UK, and evidence showing that the risks increase significantly when sunbed use begins at a young age, stronger regulation is urgently needed.
The crackdown is part of the government’s national cancer plan, with an ambition to see one in three cancer patients cancer-free or living well five years after diagnosis. In 2023, there were almost a quarter of a million new skin cancer diagnoses in the UK, costing the NHS an estimated £750 million annually.
Supporters of the proposals say that mandatory ID checks, clearer health warnings, and tighter controls on misleading health claims are positive and necessary steps towards improving public safety, raising awareness, and helping to prevent future skin cancer cases. If enforced, these new proposals could protect more teenagers and young adults from the risks of sunbeds.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the government will also look at whether tougher action is needed, with a call for evidence launching in autumn 2026. This move is expected to further strengthen the regulations and ensure that businesses are held accountable for providing a safe and responsible service.
The charity sector has welcomed the consultation, with many experts hailing it as a major step forward in the fight against skin cancer. With young skin being especially vulnerable to the risks of sunbeds, research has shown that a single exposure to indoor tanning before the age of 35 years is associated with a 59% increased risk of developing melanoma.
