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Legislator wants to ban tanning for teens under 16
Filed under: Teens, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies
I spent a good amount of time in my teenage years laying poolside, working on getting the best tan. Sure, I had heard all about wearing sunscreen and such, but I didn't care. I wanted to look good and, in my mind, tanned skin looked good. Now that I'm older, you couldn't get me outside without sunscreen, let alone get me to go tanning.
One legislator in North Dakota wants to make sure that teenagers under the age of 16 aren't spending their time inside in a tanning booth. He is proposing a bill, backed by two dermatologists, banning those under 16 from tanning beds.
This is quite an interesting idea. We know that tanning, whether it be in a booth or by the sun, causes skin cancer. But the decision to tan and risk skin cancer is one that people have to make on their own. But, should a 15-year-old, whose logic and reasoning skills aren't matured, be allowed to go these tanning facilities?
The man that wrote the blog linked says this:
"Really, how much of a problem is this? If there has been a spate of teenagers with skin cancer caused by tanning beds I've yet to hear about it. If these dermatologists in Bismarck are worried about skin cancer let them raise some money to run ads about it or convince tanning salons to establish a minimum age policy. What we don't need are our tax dollars going to enforce a law that is aimed at solving a problem that, to this observer, doesn't even seem to exist in the first place."
The problem doesn't exist? Sadly, it does. How do you think those teens at the mall are so dark in the middle of February? But, I think the question is this: Should the government step in to say that these kids should (or shouldn't) do something that may eventually cause cancer?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-09-2007 @ 10:16AM
Ally said...The average age for skin cancer is steadily creeping down from one's 50s to mid-twenties; and I have heard that dermatologists are blaming tanning salons as the culprit.
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1-09-2007 @ 10:30AM
Jessica said...It't not the govt's decision, it's the parents decision.
Part of the reason the majority of people in this nation are unwilling to take accountability for their actions is that the gov't keeps trying to determine all our actions for us. This is not the role of the government as determined by the forefathers of our nation.
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1-09-2007 @ 10:50AM
LS said...I agree with Jessica. I'm sick of the "Nanny State" that this country has become. Banning trans fats in NYC, banning smoking in all but your own house in California, banning Fois Gras in Chicago, now tanning beds. The job of the government is to see to our defense - against enemies foreign and domestic - not tanning beds. Leave that decision to the parents.
One thing that I WOULD like to see, given the weight that Hollywood seems to have, is stars like JLo coming out and saying, "This tan? Oh, it's from a bottle!"
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1-09-2007 @ 11:42AM
Christine said...Well.... I sort of think that noone under 16 really has business in a tanning salon... but I also think it is a parent's decision and the government is going off the deep end with this stuff... (Hello... I have to sign my life away for a bottle of Dimetapp).
On that note though... what do you do when there are so many parents who are letting their kids do absolutely crazy things???
It is kind of a darned if you do... darned if you dont thing.
I guess in this case, I would like to see the liscensing board of each state take this on... and stress the it does NOT recommend that tanning salons allow teens under 16... and/or maybe make sure that a parental release is signed...
That seems the better way.
Reply
1-09-2007 @ 11:48AM
Christine said...One comment on the smoking ban and transfats...etc.. these are public health issues voted on by the public. We just banned smoking in Arizona, too. It is about not letting a group of people jeopardize your health against your will... but at their home, yes, they are free to blacken up their lungs. Transfats... same thing.... you dont know what they are putting in your food... at least this LIMITS the damage they are doing to you without losing business (across the board is fair to all).. there are alternatives.. it just makes them use them.
Tanning is not the same thing.. it only effects that particular person any way you look at it.
Very different issues. Also note that the innitiatives were voted ONTO the ballot by voters and PASSED by voters... not the same as something only voted on by elected officials.
Reply
1-09-2007 @ 1:08PM
Crystal said...I do not think tanning booths are healthy. I have never been, nor would I ever use one. My when daughter is old enough, I hope to talk her out of using them. HOWEVER, it makes me nervous when the government tells us what we can and cannot do. I think its up to the parents to decide what is best for their child.
What about children with eczema and skin conditions that benefit from the light therapy?? Would there be special allowances??
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