title: Time to repeal the  Tattooing of Minors Act 1969.
abstract: The Health Protection Agency has again issued a warning to teenagers about the risks of infection and transmission of bloodborne diseases from using home tattoo kits. The warning came after two children from Sussex needed hospital treatment for infected tattoos. The trend for teenagers to use kits bought online or to have home tattoo parties is becoming a more common way to overcome the legal ban on tattooing minors. Richard Griffith argues that the public health risk to children from the use of unsterile home tattooing equipment can be countered by repealing the law prohibiting the tattooing of minors so that they can be protected, as adults are, by a regulated and licensed tattoo industry.
authors.affiliation: College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D033242:Minors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology