Watchdog tells tanning salons to stop downplaying skin cancer risk
The advertising watchdog has told tanning salons to stop making misleading health claims and downplaying the skin cancer risks of sunbeds.
How it was covered
- BBC One was the only channel found covering it, concentrating on the watchdog's enforcement notice on sunbed health claims and cancer risk.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC Two, Channel 4, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
BBC One reported that the advertising watchdog has warned tanning salons against promoting sunbeds as a treatment for health conditions. In an enforcement notice, the watchdog said operators must stop downplaying the risks of skin cancer and must not claim that sunbeds are safe.
BBC One reported that the watchdog was particularly concerned about how some tanning salons market themselves on social media. The notice says firms must not make misleading health claims, including that sunbeds can boost vitamin D or brain function. It also says they must not discourage people from seeking proper medical treatment by implying that sunbeds can manage bone disease, skin conditions or depression.
According to BBC One, one in seven young adults, about 14%, had used a sunbed in the past year, based on the latest industry figures. The NHS and cancer charities have long linked the machines to higher rates of melanoma and other skin cancers.
BBC One reported that an industry association representing around half of all tanning salons welcomed the clampdown. It said its members are highly regulated and only a small number of rogue operators might be breaking the rules.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Industry figures indicated that one in seven young adults used a sunbed in the past year. | |
| The advertising watchdog issued an enforcement notice warning tanning salons against downplaying skin cancer risks or making misleading health claims. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West led with the enforcement notice and the specific health claims salons must stop making, including vitamin D and brain function. It also highlighted social media marketing, the skin cancer risk and the industry association's response. The tone was factual and health-focused.
- “Tanning salons have been warned against promoting sunbeds as a treatment for health conditions”
- “operators must also stop downplaying The risks of skin cancer and claiming that sunbeds are safe”
- “One in seven young adults has used a sunbed in the past year according to the latest industry figures”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.