Holy crap! As of next year, I’m going to be banned from tanning beds. Not that I’m a big tanning bed user or anything, but it seems weird that there will actually be a law that’s enforced according to your skin tone. How are solariums supposed to police it? A poster with paint chips? “If your skin is THIS PALE, you’re not allowed to use our tanning beds!”
Jenny
April 10, 2008 — 10:10 am
But people are still allowed to smoke? Obviously the solariums need better lobbyists (at least that would be the state of things here).
Kris
April 10, 2008 — 10:54 am
Skin cancer awareness is MUCH higher down here than it is in the US (mostly because the incidence is a lot higher here too). And there was a young woman who died of skin cancer last year, and before she died she filmed a bunch of PSAs warning about tanning beds. So it’s been very much in the public eye for a while now. Still, I just don’t see how they’re going to enforce it.
M-H
April 10, 2008 — 1:24 pm
Our kneejerk government strikes again. Nanny state. Don’t get me started!
Rachel
April 10, 2008 — 1:54 pm
They’ll be stopping me going out in the sun between 10.30 and 16.30 next…
I went to Sunlounge for a few months before going to Brazil a couple of years ago ( didn’t want people staring at the bluish white girl, turns out they were just as freaked out by a girl with short hair never mind the complete absence of colour.) and the people at the tanning salon weren’t keen on me coming and would never put me on anything other than the lowest powered bed. Didn’t really work anyway & damn it’s so awful in those places, the heat, the smell of the odd lotions, the awful music…
I think it’s a personal responsibility thing like any other health issue. If you’re Australian and pale skinned you’d have to live in a bubble not to know about slip slop slap and the danger of tanning. If they still decide to go out and get a tan isn’t it they’re decision?
Eva
April 10, 2008 — 2:02 pm
I think its a good stand, its only for under 18’s and fair skin. And they’re just banning tanning salons, you can still do the “BBQing” naturally.
Skin cancer victim was Claire Oliver, her story moved me. she was only 26! that’s painful.
On the other hand… all the Asians want white skin at the moment…
Kris
April 10, 2008 — 2:58 pm
But how do you determine “fair” skin? That’s what perplexes me. I just think it’s stupid to introduce a law you can’t enforce.
And can’t rich people still BUY tanning beds? I mean, I know people in America who have them.
Then again, maybe it’s like the Responsible Service of Alcohol thing… Hmm.
Moire
April 11, 2008 — 5:09 am
Half of me (the cancer awareness uber mensch) thinks this is a great idea, and the other half (the civil libertarian) is bemoaning the systematic revocation of any and all personal freedoms. I’m simply not sure how to feel about these kind of laws. Indiana already limits tanning bed use to legal adults (unless their guardian is there to sign them in), but you know it’s barely enforced.
On a quasi-related note, I’ve been back in Indiana for over four years and I’m still not over the fact that I can’t buy booze on Sunday. BLUE LAWS >:(
Liz
April 11, 2008 — 6:08 am
How is it that nobody’s commented on the STELLAR name of the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer)…..VERITY FIRTH!!!
Kris
April 11, 2008 — 8:04 am
Heh. I don’t even look twice at her name anymore. I remember thinking it was cool when I first heard it, but she’s always on the news these days so it’s lost its novelty for me.
Bex
April 11, 2008 — 9:30 am
They give you a questionaire to fill in (i wanted to be tan before I found out tatts look better on white skin).
They ask you a bunch of questions, i.e, are you blonde or redhead? do you burn and then rarely tan? do you sunburn easily? etc etc. If you answer yes to most of the questions, you are ‘too pale’ and wont tan anyway.
They have different levels – red hair, white skin = will never tan. Blonde hair, white skin = rarely tan (so not worth it). Blonde or brunette hair, medium skin = will take a tan (so go ahead and crisp yourself in our machine). ‘Greek’ or ‘Italian’ colouring, dark hair, olive skin = jump right in….
Just for the record, i’m the blonde, white skin, never tan kinda girl – and they let me buy a 10 session value pass.