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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why Boots sell medicines...

43 replies

PigeonPie · 18/06/2011 22:14

...which are supposed to be 'kept out of reach and sight of children' at the cashiers' counters together with sweets and other things directly within the reach and sight of children.

When I mentioned it to the cashier who served me today she just shrugged her shoulders.

I think that this is ridiculous, but maybe I'm missing something.

OP posts:

scottishmummy · 19/06/2011 01:55

its a retail environment selling items,they are not responsible for graspy hands and enquiring kids.thats the parents role. and not everyone wishing to purchase pain killers has a wean with them,so doesn't need to think about it

expatinscotland · 19/06/2011 01:57

Yes, I think you are missing what scottishmummy says. Your children are your own responsibility.

MrsRhettButler · 19/06/2011 01:58

@ nailak's loss of a g! What an unfortunate one to lose!

Andrewofgg · 19/06/2011 06:56

I've said elsewhere that Boots are crap and they are. But the message about keeping out of the sight and reach of children is aimed at buyers, not retailers, and you are pushing the envelope of blame too far here. YABU.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 19/06/2011 06:59

YABU .... Parents must control their children in shops.

ginmakesitallok · 19/06/2011 07:10

YABU - has anyone ever heard of an actual occassion when a child has managed to consume medication in a when their parent/guardian is paying?????

Tee2072 · 19/06/2011 07:15

You can't say it's because Boots is crap, though, Andrewofogg. I often go to my local chemist, which is not Boots, and they also have those sorts of things at child height. And my son as reached for them. And I've told him no. And he's had a bit of a strop. And that is part of being a parent.

CliniqueMum · 19/06/2011 07:26

Or perhaps parents should take responsibility for their own children. Honestly the world can't be catered for pre scholars. What next - should we get all shops to pad their shelves in case the little darlings hurt themselves as they reach for the products. In fact I may ask the sports centre to remove their door because my son walked into it - the fact he wasn't looking where he was going is irrelevant. Seriously if your kids are likely to go in shops, open containers and eat the contents I'd say that's pretty poor parenting.

CelebratedMonkey · 19/06/2011 07:27

YABU

Original poster

PigeonPie · 19/06/2011 08:56

Thank you. I am obviously unreasonable. In our little Boots in town we don't have those big checkout counters so I was surprised to see stuff like that at the large branch I was in yesterday.

FWIW my children know not to touch (and get told off when they do) and it isn't an issue per se but I just thought it hypocritical to not adhere to instructions properly.

OP posts:

MogTheForgetfulCat · 19/06/2011 09:17

I suppose it is hypocritical - but they would probably argue that they don't manufacture the products and so aren't responsible for the wording on the packaging. Also that the wording is aimed at the consumer/end-user rather than the retailer. Bit of a fudge. FWIW, I think the sort of attitude that some people have about this sort of thing (trying to put all responsibility for everything onto anyone but themselves) is the reason we have all these largely unnecessary warnings on packaging of all sorts.

Pedallleur · 19/06/2011 09:25

Strangeto complain about medications yet the shelves are stacked with sugar/salt filled snack food and drink and alcohol is easily accessible. The children see a lot less of the medicines than the other stuff

MsTeak · 19/06/2011 10:32

If you kept them out of sight of children, you'd have to put the whole of Boots in a cupboard. What would they do with all the empty shelves?

Keep them away from children means in your own home, not in the shop, and you are being ridiculous.

Original poster

PigeonPie · 19/06/2011 14:45

I'm not saying Boots should not sell medicines - that's their business. But I would have just thought it was more appropriate to have them for sale with all the rest of the medicines rather than at the general checkouts where there was also chocolate / sweets.

OP posts:

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 19/06/2011 14:55

But then there should not be any alcohol sold on shelves so let's put that behind a counter. And then there are other glass bottles and jars, the children could hurt themselves with that so let's move that. The child could sneak a grape and choke, let's move that. The child may climb into a freezer unit and freeze, so let's move them. If it was a kitchen shop, well shit, you're screwed with sharp items, glass and china!!

Based on your post that children could get hurt with medicines being within reach, that would mean over 3/4 of a supermarket would have to have stuff behind a counter just in case. Clearly you do not think you are being unreasonable but you really are. Parents must take responsibility for their children.

noir · 19/06/2011 15:03

Is this thread serious? It sounds like something off Brass Eye.

TheArmadillo · 19/06/2011 15:56

I agree with Noir - this can't be a serious thread surely?

Andrewofgg · 19/06/2011 18:24

Tee2072 - quite agree. The crapitude of Boots has nothing to do with it. In this instance they are in the right.

About thirty years ago in the pre-Net age, there was a rather sedate row in the Consumers' Association when they called for a ban on foil and cling-film dispensers with a serrated edge as "dangerous to children" and the non-small-child-rearing classes protested vigorously that these were useful items and that parents should take responsibility for keeping their little darlings' fingers away from them. So we have been here before.

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