Sunbed sessions illegally sold to teenagers in Blackburn
2:40pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News
By Lisa Woodhouse, Assistant picture editor
TANNING salons illegally offered sunbed sessions to underage teenagers during a mystery shopper exercise.
Blackburn with Darwen Council officers found eight of the 13 premises visited offered sunbed sessions to the underage customers.
It is now warning businesses that if they fail to comply with legislation, they could face fines of up to £20,000.
Two volunteer 14-year-olds went into the shops and asked to use a sunbed for between three and six minutes.
Since April 2011 it has been illegal for sunbed businesses to offer UV sunbeds to persons under the age of 18.
A letter will be sent to all the premises warning them to take note of the law and further test purchasing will take place in the future.
Coun Faryad Hussain, executive member for environment, said: “There are known health risks to using sunbeds so we are very keen to make sure businesses are being responsible and not offering under 18s sessions on the sunbeds.
“I am disappointed that eight shops failed the test purchase even if this is a relatively new piece of legislation.
“We want to work with sunbed businesses to make sure they comply with the law but clearly we will take action if shops continue to ignore it.
“Hopefully, these operations will raise awareness of businesses’ responsibilities in terms of these laws.”
Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for health and adult social care, said: “These results are worrying. Businesses need to have checks in place to make sure under 18s are not offered sessions. Using a sunbed to get a tan is a risk.”
Comments(6)
Sid James
says...
9:37pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Is buckoff trying to say that these two officers of the Council should use their own money, ie from their own pockets to target the sunbed businesses. Surely not ALL corner shops sell illegal tobacco or sell alcohol to underage kids. Buckoff's dislike to ALL people with darker skin is too obvious.
sen c ble
says...
8:26am Fri 2 Nov 12
jack denials
says...
8:42am Fri 2 Nov 12
sen c ble wrote:WOW! this must be the first time you have made a comment where you haven't insulted me Mr Sen C Ble. Looks like your growing up.
The council should now expand their checks to detect other businesses not complying to trading laws. We are all aware, off licences and tobacco being sold to the underage, but the extent of how many other operators goes unbaited will soon become evident!
jack denials
says...
8:51am Fri 2 Nov 12
Sid James wrote:I agree with you there Sid.
Well said jack denials, I don't understand either.
Is buckoff trying to say that these two officers of the Council should use their own money, ie from their own pockets to target the sunbed businesses. Surely not ALL corner shops sell illegal tobacco or sell alcohol to underage kids. Buckoff's dislike to ALL people with darker skin is too obvious.
Buckoff doesn't understand that It takes a great deal of hard work to build up and maintain a newsagent and requires a lot of grafting, with early mornings and late nights. Running a newsagent is a people and community-orientated business.
I don’t deny that it happens, but don’t attack the majority when it’s the minority causing the problem.
sen c ble
says...
4:50pm Fri 2 Nov 12
jack denials wrote:Hey listen boy, Master Sen to you.
sen c ble wrote:WOW! this must be the first time you have made a comment where you haven't insulted me Mr Sen C Ble. Looks like your growing up.
The council should now expand their checks to detect other businesses not complying to trading laws. We are all aware, off licences and tobacco being sold to the underage, but the extent of how many other operators goes unbaited will soon become evident!
P.S. will try harder next time!
jack denials says...
3:50pm Thu 1 Nov 12