15/09/2009 - Bannatyne bans sunbed use by minors
Dragons' Den judge Duncan Bannatyne has overhauled the rules governing sunbed use at his health clubs after a BBC series revealed that under 16s were able to use the facilities.
He has upped the age limit from 16 to 18 after a 15-year-old working for the Watchdog programme secretly filmed herself using the sunbeds at two different Bannatyne-owned gyms. She claimed to be 16 when visiting the establishments, but no age checks were carried out.
Appearing in an edition of the show hosted by Anne Robinson, he claimed that he used sunbeds and had allowed his children to so, arguing that no firm link between use of the machines and cancer had been established.
"There's no actual legislation or anything that proves that sunbeds cause cancer. The World Health Organisation says it is the same risk as red wine, beer and sunshine - natural sunshine - so it's very difficult to establish whether or not it does cause cancer," he said.
He said his company had changed the regulations after the programme producers brought to his attention a report by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment which recommended a ban on sunbed use by under-18s.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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