UK Ferry Tickets

When I first started going on holiday with friends, to popular resorts in Spain and Greece, there was always an unofficial competition to get the best suntans.

I remember in Corfu we found a little shop selling carrot oil that, far from offering sun protection, actually magnified the impact of the sun’s rays. Day after day we would coat ourselves in this stuff and fall asleep in the midday heat, sleeping off the excesses of the night before. Needless to say, after a fortnight’s holiday, we were a deep, chocolate brown and very proud of ourselves. It was a sign of good health.

Now we know that we were actually dicing with death. If you believe all the recent reports, the number of people suffering from skin cancer has hit record levels. You’re far more likely to be a victim of skin cancer than of terrorism.

Safety in the sun makes sense, but some of the advice from Cancer Research UK does not, in my opinion. It says that people should stay in the shade from 11am to 3pm to avoid damage from strong UV rays. How many people do you know who would do that during their holiday? Other advice, such as to use factor 15+ sunscreen and make sure you never burn, is far more sensible.

Continuing the theme of encouraging a ‘compensation culture’, two busy body academics from Cardiff University have warned that people may be able to sue travel companies for getting skin cancer abroad, in the same way that individuals sued the tobacco industry for not warning them about the dangers of smoking.

Husband and wife team Professor Ken and Dr Sue Peattie warn that travel agents have a responsibility to give information about what to expect on holiday and advise on sun protection should be part of that.

That’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. What next? Sue your travel company after you come back from Thailand with a nasty itch because he or she didn’t warn you about the Bangkok nightlife? Or maybe try a bungee jump in New Zealand and then sue the travel company if you get whiplash?

Have fun abroad, but take responsibility for your own actions. What’s your view on our ‘compensation culture’?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Wednesday, August 31st, 2005