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Senate Passes Ban On Tanning For Minors

Tom Vagliery via Flickr CC

 

The New Hampshire Senate has passed a bill that bans anyone under age 18 from using tanning facilities, sending the bill to Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan's desk.

The bill's supporters say it's necessary to protect the health of teenagers, similar to the ban on minors buying cigarettes. Data from the World Health Organization shows using a tanning bed under the age of 30 significantly increases the chances of being diagnosed with melanoma.

But opponents of the bill say whether a teenager can tan is a decision they should make with their parents. They say the bill is a slippery slope that could lead to further unnecessary bans. New Hampshire law now bans anyone under 14 from tanning unless ordered by a doctor and requires parental permission for anyone under 18.

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