Austria to ban solariums for under-18s

Austria is to follow Germany and France in banning under-18s from going to solariums because of the risks of developing skin cancer, the country's ministry for youth said Monday.

The measure, voted unanimously by parliament in November, will come into effect on September 1, the ministry said, adding that operators will have to introduce a system to enforce it.

For people under 35 who regularly tan in solariums the risk of getting potentially deadly skin cancer rises by 75 percent, studies have found.

Solariums which break the law risk fines of up to 2,180 euros (2,900 dollars).