As temperatures climb, a Sheffield city-centre pub is handing out complimentary suncream and water in its beer garden, while Bassetlaw District Council has fitted dispensers in parks and other public spaces. A survey for the charity Melanoma Focus found 54 per cent of Sheffield residents are sunburnt at least once a year and 39 per cent seldom apply protection during a British summer, prompting calls for lotion to be as readily available as hand sanitiser.
The pub first trialled free suncream during the pandemic’s table-service days and kept the offer after seeing strong demand. Management say the gesture combines social responsibility with good business, encouraging customers to linger safely outdoors. Regulars praise the convenience, admitting sunblock is something they often forget to pack.
Further north, the council has installed four sunscreen stations, including one at Langold Country Park. Staff report constant refills and positive feedback from parents relieved to find protection on site. Local health officials hope the move will foster new habits and reduce long-term skin-cancer risk.
Similar efforts are under way in the Netherlands, where hospitals, beaches and schools now host free dispensers amid even higher melanoma rates than the UK. Dutch clinicians running the scheme argue that easy access plus early education can normalise daily use and, over time, bring case numbers down. In England, the Department of Health notes that high-factor suncream is VAT-free on prescription for certain UV-sensitive conditions and says its forthcoming National Cancer Plan will place greater emphasis on prevention.
