South Ayrshire Council has discovered that nearly 60% of tanning salon operators in South Ayrshire are allowing under18s to access unhealthy sunbed sessions, without properly checking their age.
By making covert visits, using 16 year old volunteers, the Council discovered many of the operators failed to conduct proper age checks on the young person, before allowing them access to the UV beds.
Councillor Peter Convery, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and the Environment said: "The fashion for a tan, particularly among the young, has led to much greater use of sunbeds in recent years.
"Sadly this has also contributed to a steep rise in cases of malignant melanoma - the most deadly form of skin cancer. Cancer Research UK has found that Scots suffer the worst with more than two cases among 15-34 year olds being diagnosed each week."
In 2008 the Scottish Government made it an offence for operators to allow access to sunbeds for people under 18, on health grounds.
Young people should be asked to prove they are old enough by presenting a passport, a photo driving licence or any PASS approved proof of age card, such as the Young Scot card.
Currently, the law requires operators to display health warning posters and provide health information to users. Good practice guidelines also require operators to assess skin types and warn against overexposure.
Councillor Convery continued: "This was the first time we had used volunteers in a covert operation and the results are extremely disappointing.
"Our Trading Standards & Environmental Health Officers were alarmed to discover in a number of premises, this advice was being ignored, as correct proof of age checks were simply not being made.
"In several cases, the required health warning information was not given and, in one case, the seller encouraged the fair skinned volunteer to take a longer session than she had asked for.
"What makes these findings worse is that all these premises had already received a previous visit during which we provided advice and assistance on compliance."
Where access was granted, the Council's trained volunteers did not use the sunbeds but instead waited out the time in the sunbed room before leaving.
Councillor Convery warned: "These results are completely unacceptable and clearly show a a number of sunbed operators aren't taking their legal responsibilities seriously.
"I'm determined to see this change locally. Experts are clear about the direct link between sunbed use and cancer, so it is vital we act to upheld to protect young people".
South Ayrshire Council will now be carrying out further advisory and enforcement visits and breaches will result in the issue of Fixed Penalty Fine Notices or referrals to the Procurator fiscal.
See Trading Standards and Environmental Health Services for further information.