Teenagers under the age of 18 are still managing to use sunbeds, due to a failure by some sunbed operators to check their age, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has warned.

A ban on the use of sunbeds by people under the age of 18 was introduced here during the summer of 2014. It applies to sunbed businesses who have sunbeds on their premises, and those who sell or hire sunbeds out to the public.

Businesses who break this law face fines of up to €5,000 and possible imprisonment.

However, a mystery shopper survey carried out by the ICS has found relatively low compliance with this law. As part of this, mystery shoppers were sent into 40 sunbed businesses in Dublin, however two out of five of these did not ask for any identification, while one in three did not refuse to book minors.

"It is shocking to see that two out of five sunbed operators are not complying with the requirement to ask customers their age, and many are making bookings for under 18s. Sunbed legislation is there to protect young people who are at the highest risk of developing skin cancer," commented ICS chief executive, Averil Power.

She also said that it is ‘alarming' that so many adults continue to use sunbeds regularly ‘given the clear link with skin cancer'.

"Almost 12,000 people get skin cancer in Ireland each year, more than any other cancer. Some 1,100 of those are diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease," she explained.

There is a 75% increased risk of developing melanoma if people begin tanning regularly before the age of 35, the ICS highlighted.

Meanwhile, the survey also noted that one in four sunbed operators offered free sunbed minutes, while one in five used two-for-one promotional offers. Such offers are in clear breach of current sunbed legislation.

"The ICS is concerned to see operators flouting sunbed legislation. They've had almost five years to comply and need to get their act together.

"We're calling for greater resources to be made available so that Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) who check for compliance and safety can carry out more inspections of sunbeds and sunbed operators, and that those found to be breaching the law are punished," Ms Power added.

For more information on the ICS, click here