When I was 17, there were three things that were important to me: my boyfriend had to drive, my Uggs had to be clean and my skin always needed to be bronze. This meant that I would spend about three days a week in a tanning bed — especially during the dreary Canadian winters. 

Walking into my tanning salon in Richmond Hill, Ont. was like walking into an alternate universe. There were fluorescent lights, shelves lined with the latest tanning lotions and beautifully bronzed people everywhere. Life was good. 

In the five years since, I have probably been to a tanning salon a combined total of five times. 

Since attending university and maturing into a young woman, my priorities have shifted. I’m not necessarily against tanning beds, but no longer do I see the need for it. As for many, they held the most appeal in my teens.

The new legislation being passed by the Ontario Liberals banning all people under the age of 18 from using tanning beds is a little flawed, in my opinion. I understand the risks involved with youth being overexposed to UV rays, but I can also see when there are necessary times for a base tan.

I’ve planned trips down south in the middle of January, and let’s just say that my skin rivals white rice in colour. The burn on my skin that would emerge from southern sun rays would be far more detrimental than seven minutes in a tanning bed. 

I also have friends who have driven around to different salons in the same day to achieve that luscious, leathery look. Unacceptable. 

In moderation, tanning beds aren’t horrible— at least nothing worse than lying under the sun for hours. I propose a parental consent policy. Hopefully this will prevent teens from orbiting too far from reality and into the world of tan-gerines.