Province to Ban Teens from Using Tanning Beds
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 @ 9:59 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The province will be introducing legislation that will ban those aged 18 and under from using commercial tanning beds. The legislation is expected to be in place this fall. This ban means B.C. follows the lead of Nova Scotia and southern Vancouver Island which have already put similar bans in place.Studies have shown t indoor tanning before the age of 35 raises the risk of melanoma by 75 per cent. Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer. In Canada, the incidence rates of melanoma are rising every year. Overall, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada, and yet it is also one of the most preventable.
"After a great deal of consideration of clinical evidence, commissioning a report to provide options and listening to what local governments had to say at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention last year, government has decided to restrict access to tanning beds for young people under the age of 18" says Health Minister Michael de Jong.
"Getting a tan might be a popular option among many young people, but research has shown that it can result in potentially deadly skin cancers later in life," says Dr. Andy Coldman, BC Cancer Agency vice-president, population oncology. "Restricting access to tanning beds for youth will help reduce the risk of these cancers later in life,
and so I applaud today’s decision by the provincial government."
The proposed regulation under the Public Health Act will ban the use of commercial indoor tanning beds by youth under the age of 18, unless they have a medical prescription. It is anticipated to take effect fall 2012.
In the meantime, the Canadian Cancer Society BC Yukon division is into its second Tan Free Grad Challenge, and secondary school students across BC are set to fight back against cancer by encouraging their classmates to forego the “prom tan”, and instead, rock it in the skin they’re in. Grade 12 students are leading the Tan Free Grad by educating their peers on the dangers of Ultraviolet radiation from both the sun and indoor tanning equipment and collecting pledges from fellow students to be tan-free for their graduation.
Comments
This is good. Next, please ban energy drinks for teenagers. :)
A blow to teenage vanity. OMG.
News alert: Retailers note increase in sales of home tanning products, attributed to sympathetic suburban parents.
metalman.
Time to tweak our RNA a bit and allow us to choose skin colour prior to birth …. ;-)
What I see with a lot of what the provincial liberals doing is taking away our rights to make our own choicesin life.Welfare and EI recipients are going to move north to fill jobs in the oil patch etc.Young people can’t go to tanning salons.What’s next in store for the citizens of BC.Keep a close eye on the laws and regulations these people bring about,as we are being stripped of our individual choices good or bad,when they are really unable to enforce the laws and regulations that are already in place.This government shows me on a daily basis that they are far past being effective in any matter.Can’t wait for the spring of 2013!
I for one think it’s a good thing that someone is looking out for the younger generation’s health. Teenagers are know it alls just like most of us were at that age. So to have a law to guide them is great considering most don’t take warnings from the adults in their lives.
The only problem with allowing “…individual choices good or bad…” jakeadoo is that the rest of us end up paying for the bad choices. Treating melanoma ain’t cheap.
I am glad the gov’t is thinking about the skin of teens. Now if they would only think about the brains of teens and come up with a fair teachers. Maybe the teachers could enlighten teens about individual choice and the dangers of tanning bed use.
Wow, while I understand the intentions of the government to help protect BC youth from the harmful effects of tanning beds I think that by making it completely taboo and illegal it glorifies it. If youth can’t use tanning beds won’t they just tan in the sun, which is just as bad?
I really don’t think we need more legislation banning teens from making choices for themselves. Do we really need one more choice made for us by the government? I completely support the cause to end tanning, but the push needs to come from the youth to stop, not Big Brother outlawing yet another youth freedom. I mean have you seen the GDL driving guidelines? There are already enough decisions being made for BC teens, do we need more?
Spray tanning is an alternative that is very acceptable and can produce a lovely, attractive tan in one session. Just make sure the products used are derived from a vegetable source. The salon I am familiar with at the Coast Hotel offers it and it is quite popular.
Comments for this article are closed.