By CHAT News Today

Tanning bed restrictions for youth in effect in Alberta

Jan 3, 2018 | 3:33 PM

EDMONTON — New legislation restricting youth from using tanning beds is now in effect across Alberta.

The Skin Cancer Prevention Act came into effect on January 1 and prohibits businesses in Alberta from advertising ultraviolet artificial tanning services to those under the age of 18.

“Protecting teens from the harmful effects of artificial tanning is a small change that can save lives,” said Health Minister Sarah Hoffman in a statement. “Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Alberta. This step will help start conversations about the unnecessary risks of UV tanning.”

Skin cancer accounts for more than one-third of all new cancer cases in Alberta, with UV radiation exposure accounting for almost 82 per cent of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Rates of melanoma have increased in Alberta in recent years. In 2014, 665 new cases of melanoma were reported, up from 2012, where 599 new cases of melanoma were reported. In addition, 64 deaths due to melanoma were reported in 2014, down slightly from 2012, where 72 deaths were reported.

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Tanning businesses are required to post health warnings and age restrictions and unsupervised artificial tanning equipment is no longer allowed in public places.

Alberta Health Services will enforce the new legislation.