New legislation which bans under-18s from using sunbeds comes into action today.
The law, which Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has brought in, means that sunbed operators will have to have a license, and the sale of sunbeds online will also be controlled. There is also a ban on offering the use of a sunbed for free, and Varadkar may also impose a ban on advertising the use of sunbeds at a reduced price.
People who wish to use a sunbed will have to show ID to prove that they are over 18.
Minister Varadkar said: “This ban won’t solve the skin cancer problem on its own, but we can achieve our goal if we work together and raise awareness.”
Over 850 cases of skin cancer are reported in Ireland each year, and the Irish Cancer Society estimates that up to 28,000 children and teenagers use sunbeds every year.
