I shouted at the pharmacy staff today and I feel really shit about it

[lboogy]

I went to boots to buy some lemsip and calpol for me D.C. and DH who are sick with cold.

The rule about not selling more than 2 paracetamol items applies. I've got 2 packs of lemsip, calpol and one pack of cold and flu tablets. Fine. In the past the staff just do 2 transactions.

I get to the till which is long. They call another member of staff to help out. Lady on the beauty counter tells me to come to her for service. Scans the calpol and lemsip and says I can't buy anything else since I've exceeded my 2 paracetamol limit. I said just split the transaction in 2. She says no she can't do that. If I want more than 2, I need to go to the pharmacy. I said if I left the store or even left the queue and came back I'd be able to buy those items again. She's like, I don't make the rules.

Fuming, I walk to the pharmacy. Pharmacist isn't there. Waited for 7 minutes. Even more annoyed I go back to the original queue. New staff says can't buy more than 2. I politely asked her to do 2 transactions. Nope, can't do she says. Before I know it, I'm shouting at her about this ridiculous rule and how I've now been in 3 different queues / tills trying to buy some bloody lemsip.

Anyway, she refuses to serve me. Walks off😡

Now new staff at the till: I said I'll pay for these 2 lemsip and re queue. I paid and walked back to the pharmacy with my 2 other lemsips where the pharmacist or possibly manager is serving. She said she was really sorry the staff are allowed to split the transaction. She doesn't know why they didn't. At this point I started crying - I guess being ill and the stupid staff not using their brain plus finally being validated set me off.

Anyway, now I'm gone and I feel really shit for shouting at the staff. I remember being on the texting end of terrible customers and it's awful. I want to go back and apologise to the staff member but at the same time I'm pissed that 3 different people lacked the ability to use their brain over some bloody lemsip!

I do think you've been unreasonable (sounds like the Boots you went to has an unclear policy and haven't ensured their staff understand it, so not really the staff's fault) but it also sounds like you're feeling terrible and were a bit frazzled. It's not an excuse, but it's a mitigating factor.

You might feel better if you apologise, but if that's not an option just chalk it up to a less than stellar moment in your life and try to do better next time. Everyone in the world (even the perfect mumsnetters on this thread) has been unreasonable at least once in their lives. It doesn't make you a horrible person.

There are, as usual, a lot of arseholes on the thread being much more unpleasant and unreasonable than the OP. Ah, such is the way of mumsnet.

This is the dumbest rule there ever was. If someone wanted to top themselves all they need do is visit a number of outlets and buy more.

If someone is going to kill them selves they will do it regardless of the rules. My aunt managed to accidentally OD on paracetamol last year despite the rule.

I've never exceeded the paracetamol rule before. No need to.

You were really rude. Those poor staff.

Are people being wilfully ignorant here or something? Still going on about “Nanny States”?

I’ll say it again:

Paracetamol overdoses decreased by 43% after these guidelines were brought in

And those are just the overdoses resulting in death. On top of that there's the 61% reduction in the number of people needing a liver transplant because of a paracetamol overdose! Statistics definitely not to be ahem sniffed at.

If someone is going to kill them selves they will do it regardless of the rules. My aunt managed to accidentally OD on paracetamol last year despite the rule.

I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. It is true that the rule cannot prevent all deaths. It has however been shown to reduce them significantly. If someone really wants to get enough paracetamol then yes, they will manage it. The restrictions do cut down the number of deaths from people who make a rash decision in a moment and then later regret it. They just force someone to take a little bit longer and to think a bit more and fortunately sometimes that is enough to save them.

As a pharmacist I’ve had this argument many times with customers. Just to clarify:

1. The maximum pack size of paracetamol that can be sold from a non pharmacy retail outlet is 16. From a registered pharmacy it is 32. A pharmacist can sell up to 100 tablets at their discretion. This is the law.

1. The law is particularly unclear when it comes to multiple sales of packs containing 16 tablets and multiple formulations. Whilst splitting the transaction is technically legal (providing no more than 100 tablets are sold) it goes against the MHRA guidelines of two packs per customer that retail outlets agree to abide by. I certainly would have a word with a staff member who split transactions without referring the customer to me.

1. The rules are in place to avoid accidental and intentional overdose. They actually work very well. Since the introduction of the legislation suicide by paracetamol overdose as been reduced as has the need for liver transplants following overdose. Not all overdose is intentional, many simply do not realise that different brands of medication contain paracetamol.

1. The staff are simply doing their job in order to try and reduce potential harm. They have every right to refuse a sale if they are not happy. They do not need to suffer abuse because of it.

The staff are simply doing their job in order to try and reduce potential harm. They have every right to refuse a sale if they are not happy. They do not need to suffer abuse because of it.

Absolutely this. I had a major supermarket checkout person refuse to sell me two packs of paracetamol at the same time as two packs of ibuprofen because they has a blanket rule on painkillers. It was annoying and frustrating but that is no excuse to shout at people.

I love how the majority of the comments are giving the OP grief for shouting and getting annoyed. You all need to get off ya high horses and stop acting like you haven't been annoyed at retail staff before or anyone else for that matter, whatever sector it is. She feels bad, she was having a bad day and she regrets it. She could be a right dick and not even think twice but she hasn't so lay off her ffs. Shit happens and You'll all get over it

However, the nature of this study means that it is difficult to conclude that it was the new law that was directly responsible for this decline.

Not conclusive, also mentions trends, does not state definitive proof.
(From NHS page linked to as evidence).

It’s difficult to tell whether the awareness campaign that also came into play at the same time as the legislation had an equal or greater effect. Awareness that paracetamol overdose is not quick or painless, that is.

You all need to get off ya high horses and stop acting like you haven't been annoyed at retail staff before or anyone else for that matter, whatever sector it is.

No I have never shouted at a shop assistant, receptionist or anyone 'serving' me in any way. Because I'm not a dick.

Everyone in the world (even the perfect mumsnetters on this thread) has been unreasonable at least once in their lives. It doesn't make you a horrible person.

Kind of does when you behave like this once then continue to behave like a vile spoiled toddler...

and she regrets it

Are we reading the same thread? She regrets not getting her own way. The rest is lip service. Also, I wish your manager could read your post upthread about deliberating flouting this rule and not giving a shit.

Suicides by paracetamol have I believe dropped significantly since the rule was brought in. And if you look up what death by paracetamol overdose looks like, you'll never shout at a member of pharmacy staff again. There are some stupid pharmacy rules about (see: not allowing a pregnant woman to buy a tube of savlon) but this really isn't one of them.

I know someone who overdosed by taking a couple of paracetamol products at the same time without thinking. It’s a very real danger and the staff were only doing their job.

Retail is a thankless job, I worked it in my student days. You really should consider apologising, having a cold isn’t an excuse to be a twat.

I work in a supermarket. I'm not allowed to serve you more than 2 packs. Even if you requeue blah blah blah. You could scream at me till you're blue, my manager would back me up 100%. Its there for a reason. Please don't abuse staff members

Fucking nanny state eh, reducing deaths from paracetamol overdose by 43%.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21370910

Look at the thread title before you scream down the OP for being an entitled, abusive harridan.

If she DIDNT feel shit and has ZERO remote then she’s deserve the shit she’s getting here.

Ahhhhh this thread. One of the classics and not in a good way.

Op i work for boots and have worked in pharmacies for many many years and have a degree, i am in no way stupid but would refuse to do a split transaction, simply because i dont want the weight of potential harm on my shoulders. Also if anything did happen the repercussions could be the pharmacist loses their licence and their career.

I get you are sick and it sucks but it is trying to keep people safe in the smallest of ways. If you have a problem dont take it out on the staff speak to a manager.

I would also like to point out that every shift i have worked recently i have been abused and or shouted at, most of the time for things beyond our control, you dont realise how frustrating it is when we want to help but cant.

I have been reduced tears several times (not because of just that but i have other things going on too) and just cant take anymore shit. We are only human and its just not fair no matter how frustrated you are.

Im glad you feel sorry and i dont want to make you feel worse just trying to show you the staffs perspective a little.

*remorse ffs

Ah yes, OP feels so shit about it that she still thinks she is right and has told everyone who disagrees to fuck right off

Kind of does when you behave like this once then continue to behave like a vile spoiled toddler...

I don't think that's totally fair. Mumsnet can be a real pile on. Lots of the initial responses to the OP were aggressively unkind. The OP has been defensive, but a lot of people are when unfairly attacked.

@Nottrueatall Does anyone really think this stupid rule prevents someone committing suicide when they're in that frame of mind? All it actually does is make it a pain in the arse for everyone else. If I wanted to kill myself I'd use self service tills in 2 separate transactions or go to a different shop, so it wouldn't delay me by much, and it certainly wouldn't change my mind.

The Golden Gate bridge documentary showed that if you make it a little more difficult for people to commit suicide, a lot of them won't go on to do it. It's often an impulse thing, spur of the moment. Little nudges can make a permanent difference.

But I'm not sensing any compassion in your post for people who might actually be tempted to kill themselves, tbh.

I work in a pharmacy too - and I get shouted at every single shift, it is always for something outwith our control (often the fact that there are NOT 3 full working days between Friday afternoon and Monday morning opening time - there are none!).

People can be horrid when they are sick. (so you tend to make allowances - because they are ill or in pain and not getting what they want - even when it is not my/our fault)

Worst is when you are on phone duty. People seem to think that you are no longer a person with real feelings if they cannot see you.

And then you get a customer come in just to say thank you, that the doctor said you told them just the right thing, they are getting the treatment they need and they are very grateful...

cheers the spirits

When I opened the thread I thought it would be about vital lifesaving drugs. It seems a bit of an overreaction for some lepsip.

Anyway OP, I wouldn't apologise now I don't think there's much point. Just take it as a lesson not to behave in this way again, you feel shit, they feel shit, everyone loses!

You sound like a petulant child. Don't go back to apologise I reckon if you went back to their shop sometime never it would be too soon.

Disgraceful behaviour by an adult.