MPs call for ban on sunbed advertising and health warnings in shops

MPs from a cross-party group are calling for a ban on advertising sunbeds and for warnings to be issued about the dangers of skin cancer in shops. They also proposed displaying cigarette-style images at sunbed shops and tanning salons to dissuade people from using them. The report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on beauty has found that the majority of skin cancer cases are preventable and also that using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of the most dangerous form of skin cancer by 60%. The Sunbed Association says the industry is already strictly regulated and does not believe sunbed use should be categorised in a similar way to tobacco products. Seven people die each day from melanoma and it is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, according to charity Cancer Research UK. The government says its recent cancer action plan in England will aim to bring in stricter rules for sunbed use, including mandatory ID checks to make sure under-18s aren't using them. But this year-long research report says government intervention needs to go further, starting with education. It found that many adults did not understand the true risk of UV exposure and when to use sun cr

May 13, 2026 → May 13, 2026