May I See Your ID Please?

If some Texas lawmakers have their way, teens will have to show proof of age before entering a tanning bed.

A new law has been proposed, banning tanning beds for use if you’re under 18 years old. The idea is much like the ban on tobacco, to prevent exposure to a known cancer-causing agent, in this case, the ultraviolet rays.

The state already has some tanning-regulatory laws in place. Parents must accompany their child if the child is under 16, and if the teen is 16 or older, but under 18, he or she must have parental permission. A doctor’s note will allow a child under 13 to enter a tanning bed.

What do you think? Should a state or province be allowed to ban tanning beds or to put regulations like this? Part of me says no because I don’t think you can compare cigarettes and alcohol to tanning. Smoking causes more illnesses than just cancer, and the effects of smoking can hurt more than just the smoker. Alcohol causes other illnesses and can cause severe injury to others if a person chooses to drive drunk or acts out in a violent manner when drunk.

While I don’t like tanning beds and don’t think anyone should use them for a non-medicinal purpose, I don’t see the point of having such banning. You can read more about the issue in this article: Texas gears up for tanning bill fight.

Image: Flickr