(Newswire.net — September 14, 2013) Denver, CO — Tanning salons in Colorado may soon face stiff fines for allowing those below the age of 18 to use their tanning beds. As HB 13-1215 works its way through committee in the Senate, Geoff Barnes – Owner and General Manager of two Colorado Tan locations in Arvada, CO says “Owners and operators need to be prepared for this law to pass and act accordingly. This will fundamentally change the way we do business, but it is not the end of the industry.”
Recent Statistics have shown that nearly 30% of high school age girls use tanning beds on a regular basis. Colorado has up to this point gone without any law on the books to set a minimum age on the use of tanning beds, although 32 States do have recently passed laws restrict use to those of a certain minimum age ranging from 15-18. This wave of legislation was prompted by a 2012 incident where a New Jersey Mother took her 5 year old into the tanning bed with her. HR 13-1215 passed the Senate and has been working its way through the Colorado State House of Representatives throughout the month of August. Under the proposed law, tanning salons will face a $200 fine for allowing minors to use tanning beds in their facilities.
To those tanning bed operators who would allow use by minors in defiance of the law, Barnes says this “If this law passes, the high fines will hurt your business much more than the loss of business will. If this law passes, my salons will comply completely and adjust our business models accordingly, diversifying and marketing to a more mature demographic, and other salons should do the same.” He points out that tanning is not losing popularity and will still be a profitable business “Statistics show that 25% of women between the ages of 18-34 tan on a regular basis, so there is no shortage of business for us. We also have to keep our business diversified, and we have moved in this direction by offering bronzers and teeth whitening services.”
About
Geoff Barnes is the Owner and General Manager of two Colorado Tan locations in Arvada, CO. Colorado Tan is dedicated to making their customers look great with a variety of services ranging from tanning to teeth whitening.