Afternoon:
9°c
TV Dragon Bannatyne raises age for sunbed users after investigation
Felix Allen11 Sep 2009
Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has changed the age limits on sunbed use at his health clubs after being tackled by BBC1 series Watchdog.
The Scottish entrepreneur increased the age limit from 16 to 18 after the consumer programme raised his awareness of a health report written this year about the dangers of sunbed use.
An undercover reporter from the programme, aged only 15, was able to use the facilities at two of his gyms as part of an investigation.
Bannatyne clashed with Watchdog presenter Anne Robinson last night after she criticised him for allowing people to use sunbeds, which are now considered to be as dangerous as cigarettes by the World Health Organisation.
A ban on under-18s is already in place in Scotland.
Bannatyne said he allowed his children to use tanning beds and had done so himself.
He said: "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."
The programme's reporter claimed to be 16 when she visited his gyms but made no effort to hide her real date of birth, which went unchallenged on a number of occasions.
Bannatyne said his chain had changed its policy after Watchdog brought his attention to a recent report by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment which recommended a ban on sunbed use by under 18s.
He told Robinson: "Two days ago we changed our policy.
"Under-18s cannot use sunbeds in our health clubs."
Reader views (3)
@ Ethan: She sounded sloshed.
I was surprised about Duncan Bannatyne's attitude towards the issue. Was it a matter of 'ignorance is bliss' I wonder?
- V.S., UK, 11/09/2009 13:13
Report abuse
Watched the show. Whats up with Anne Robinson? So much Botox and facelifts she can no longer open her mouth properly? No wonder the US career has disappeared.
- Ethan, UK, 11/09/2009 11:08
Report abuse
Pity it took a name and shame TV investigation for him to change his policies.
If he read the newspapers, and if he actually cared about the welfare of his customers. he would have raised the age limit voluntarily
- Andrew W1, London, 11/09/2009 10:38
Report abuse
