Treatments and age limits question
isitbannedintheuk.co.uk · Answer card
No. Sunbed businesses must not let anyone under 18 use a sunbed, anywhere in the UK. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have a narrow exception for medical treatment supervised by a doctor.
Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010
Banned for under-18sA sunbed business must make sure no one under 18 uses a sunbed on its premises, is offered one, or is in a restricted zone. There's an exception for medical treatment on a dedicated sunbed in a healthcare setting, supervised or directed by a doctor. A business has a defence if it took all reasonable steps to avoid the offence.
Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008
Banned for under-18sIt's an offence to let someone under 18 use a sunbed on the premises, or to sell or hire a sunbed to them, "without reasonable excuse". There's a defence if the operator believed the person was 18 or over and had taken reasonable steps to check their age.
Sunbeds Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
Banned for under-18sA sunbed business must not let anyone under 18 use a sunbed or be in a restricted zone. A business has a defence if it took all reasonable precautions to avoid the offence. There's an exception for medical treatment on a dedicated sunbed in or provided by a healthcare establishment, supervised or directed by a doctor.
This page covers the law on age. It doesn't cover the health risks of sunbeds, and it doesn't say whether Scotland has a medical-treatment exception.
isitbannedintheuk.co.uk/rules/sunbed-age/ · Last checked 1 November 2026
General information from official sources, checked on the date shown. Not legal or medical advice. © The Contract Studio UK Ltd
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