Proposed Legislation Could Ban Tans For Teens

by ABC-7 Reporter Rachel Abell

EL PASO, Texas — As the weather warms up, you may be thinking about getting a jump start on that summer tan at your local salon.

But if you’re under 18, a new bill means you may soon need to bring a doctor’s note with you, something tanning salon owners here in El Paso are not happy about.

“I think it’s crazy,” said Paul Medlin, the owner of Aruba Tan. “A parent should be able to determine if her kids can tan or not, not some legislature.”

Medlin said his staff already requires parents to give permission if their child is under 17.

“So this bill, I think, is just silly upon silly,” he said.

And potentially very costly.

Medlin said around 10 percent of his business right now is from teens.

“And if I do 150 people a day, you know, that adds up. So it will definitely have a financial impact on my business,” he said.

Some opposed to the restriction say banning minors from tanning salons would force them outside into the sun…putting them at greater risk.

“You don’t have any control over the outside environment…indoors we never burn you. I think it’s a smart way to tan,” Medlin said.

But not everyone agrees, including some teens!

“You don’t know if you could damage your skin,” said one Franklin High Schooler.

“Why would you risk getting cancer just to look orange?” asked another.

But Medlin said there are a lot of misconception about tanning beds being so terrible.

So far, though, at least 29 other states have passed laws restricting teens from tanning salons.

And Sun City teens may soon be joining them.

The American Cancer Society recommends avoiding tanning devices, especially people under the age of 18.

Right now Texas law requires children under 13 to have a doctor’s note, and anyone under 15 to have a parent present while tanning.