VIDALIA — Vice taxes to fund government prevention programs have long been the norm. Both alcohol and tobacco products are heavily taxed.

But now another product faces a tax increase to fund a government program — tanning.

Included in the proposed health care overhaul bill being settled in Congress right now is a provision to place a 10 percent tax on tanning services.

Afterglow tanning salons owner Ryan Paul doesn’t like the proposal at all, and said he has been on a letter-writing campaign that Sens. David Vitter and Mary Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander.

“I have asked them to decline or defeat that bill, but it is definitely going to hurt really bad,” Paul said.

“They are picking on tanning beds.”

Advocates for the tanning tax have pointed to studies linking use of tanning beds to an increased chance for melanoma.

But Paul said the tax on tanning beds for health reasons doesn’t make a lot of sense, because tanning beds are regulated and when used properly shouldn’t cause a health risk.

“People that abuse sun tanning, people who go outside and tan outside all day, they don’t have a regulator,” Paul said.

At his businesses, Paul said customers are only allowed in for 12 minutes at a time, and are only allowed to use the machine once a day. They’re also encouraged to wear sunscreen after using the tanning bed so that, when they participate in outdoor activities, they aren’t exposed to dangerous levels of ultraviolet rays.

“I want the customers to understand that we want to teach you how to tan, not how to burn,” he said. “Don’t use the tanning bed and then spend the day out on the lake without some kind of SPF on.”

Tanning beds can also be useful for people who need to get more sunlight, and can provide Vitamin D, he said.

Paul said he’s not sure how he will compensate for the tax, if he will adjust the prices up or down.

Bruce Moak with Wilde Tanning and Lingerie said he doesn’t anticipate the new tax would hurt the tanning business at the store.

“I don’t think it would be that significant,” he said. “It would make a $4 tan a $4.40 tan — but I still wouldn’t want it to go through.”

The tax is set to go into effect in July if signed by the President.