Don't worry, Snooki already has a new fake tanning method to promote

The tanning bed tax is expected to bring in $2.7 billion over the next decade to help fund increased health care coverage. According to the World Health Organization, tanning beds are a proven cause of cancer. Dermatologists used evidence that indoor tanning is unhealthy, especially in young people, to persuade congress to tax the service rather than cosmetic surgery. Also proposed in some states, notably New York, was a tax on soda, another proven health risk. Cigarettes already carry a tax, with New York Cityâ€s combined federal, city and recently increased state tax totaling $6.85 and registering as the highest in the nation. {The Boston Globe, The New York Times}

The potential for job losses is the only obvious downside to the new tanning services tax. Perhaps the added cost to using tanning beds will discourage people from continuing the unhealthy habit. The tax is also quite logical, as cigarettes are also a known cause of cancer that carry a tax. However, little evidence exists as to whether the increased cost cuts down on smoking. The new tanning bed tax is also in line with the recent national health care overhaulâ€s goal of focusing on preventative services.

The Jersey Shoreâ€s Snooki, an unofficial spokeswoman for tanning bed advocacy, is not too pleased.

“I don’t go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning,” she said. “He did that because of us. McCain would never put a 10 percent tax on tanning. Because he’s pale and he’d probably want to be tan.” {Second City Style}

Snooki said she switched to spray tanning to avoid the tax, perhaps unintentionally proving the law effective in other ways than simply producing revenue. If she is any indication of the average tanner, it looks like the tax could in fact reduce the use of tanning beds.

This week, they may understand. Or not.

MTV’s taking the Snooki, J-Woww and Situation show on the road and pushing it out to more than 30 countries this week, pushed up from an originally planned late spring/early summer roll out.

Antonio Campo Dall’Orto, Southern Europe manager of MTV International, says they couldn’t wait {New York Times} to introduce international viewers to “the lifestyle of the ‘Jersey Shore†team — their habits, their attitudes.”

In Latin America, Gym, Tan, Laundry (the daily Jersey Shore mantra) will become gimnasio, bronceado, lavandería. And the Situation? Well, he’ll be the Situation in every language. Somehow we don’t think anything will get lost in translation.

The Jersey Shore crew has headed to an undisclosed location, widely thought to be Miami, for season 2 of the popular show. There’s still no word on whether the duck phone was able to join in on negotiations for a recurring role.

Recently, worldwide attention has turned towards the safety of indoor tanning beds. Two weeks ago, a bill to ban anyone under 18 from using a bed in a tanning salon was introduced in the UK. The bill won support across political party lines and even attracted celebrity campaigners. Less than a week later, the FDA was reported that public hearings would be held in March to debate stronger regulations of tanning beds in the US.

Now comes news of a bill called the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act, which would allow for federal regulation of tanning beds if passed. The bill has to go through normal legislative channels, which means that even if passed if would probably not take effect for at least a year or more. But that hasn’t stopped the FTC from charging the Indoor Tanning Association with making false health and safety claims about the potential dangers of indoor tanning.

For their part, those who are against more regulation of tanning beds claim that the potential cancer risks from indoor tanning have been overstated by the cosmetic industry, who seeks to boost sunscreen sales.

Mmmkay. While we don’t doubt that there may be a level of tanning bed usage that doesn’t significantly heighten the risk of cancer (just like there’s a level of sun exposure that would likely not heighten the risk of cancer), we can’t see the harm in increasing awareness of the dangers of overdoing it.

Read more {StyleList}

Read more {BBC}