Big chain supermarkets!

[Woz22]

This Law regarding parcemtol and Ibroupfen is being mishandled by the big chain supermarkets (ASDA, Morrisons) Last year I was buying painkillers for the family on separate transactions as advised by the staff at these stores. This is on the Fast lane checkout! The staff have to keep coming back to swipe their card through every time for the age restriction. Today while buying Capol for my children I was refused capol and discussed this with staff and Manager and was threatened by security , now this hypocritical attitude by these stores over this law is ridiculous , They had no problem before but I explained to them their is nothing to stop me buying these items at on three separate shopping's in and out. But of course if you turn up with your children they refuse to remove the sugary unhealthy foods away from the tills. Shouldn't the consumer be able to decide for them selves what they can or can not buy. I shall now shop at Aldi and Lidl to avoid the stress!

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

Bryony - did she move onto the hard stuff? (Limes)

[lougle]

Paracetamol is one of the most dangerous drugs out there. Often, by the time someone is feeling ill from the effects of paracetamol overdose, the treatment (parvolex and activated charcoal) is ineffective. To successfully treat an overdose, the treatment has to start within 8 hours.

A woman died from overdose last christmas, because she took cold and flu remedies, but kept being sick, so she topped herself up.

I don't think a bit of inconvenience hurts, to be honest.

I find if I explain clearly to the chemist (ie. I'm buying 3 paracetamol containing products because I have a child under 6, two children over 6 and the adults are ill too...or I'm buying two bottles of calpol because all 3 of my children have high fevers/ill), as I put the drugs on the counter, they're fine with it.

[bryonywhisker]

My mum was refused 3 individual lemons in Asda. 2 lemons is the limit apparently. Probably to protect her from too much g+t.
Just thought I'd throw that out there.

[Wabbitty]

It was brought in as a precaution against intention misuse. We covered it back when I was a student.
Firstly blister packs were used so you had to spend time popping out all the pills rather than just opening a bottle.
Secondly limiting the amount that can be bought in a transaction.
Thirdly there was talk about coating the pills in something that if you just took a couple of pills would do no harm but if you took an overdose would make you throw up.

[Whiskwarrior]

Whoever reported because the OP was called whiny really needs to grow a spine.

People get called much, much worse here.

And as for HQ deleting the post - pathetic, over-the-top and completely unnecessary.

Between that and the shite that's being used for 'publicity' this site is looking more and more ridiculous every day.

[Wabbitty]

Borntobemum are you sure? It's just the maximum amount that can be sold without a pharmacist is 32 capsules.

[tolittletoolate]

When I worked at Asda on the checkout I used to let people put it through as an extra transaction, especially if they had cold and flu stuff and calpol etc.
Obviously if someone had loads of packs of paracetamol I wouldn't had let them buy them all.

[Sallyingforth]

I have questioned things at the supermarket checkout and never had security called.
But you probably didn't argue with the staff and then the manager, using language such as 'brain dead'.

[Borntobeamum]

Tescos have a £1 aisle and I saw bottles of ibuprofen with either 96 or 108 in it.
Maybe you need to so there.

[creamteas]

I have no problem with supermarkets upholding the law in terms of medicines.

I do object when lazy programming means that you can't buy pharmacy items which are not restricted.

My local shop, for example, has plasters as a pharmacy item and thus they can't be bought in packs of three.....

[Topseyt]

I have questioned things at the supermarket checkout and never had security called.

I recently had one of the scan and pack tills (pretty much self-service, but not the annoying ones) at our local Tesco flag me up as buying an age-restricted item when I didn't know I was. It was nothing more offensive than a pack of everyday value teaspoons, which I needed to replace the ones that seemed to have "wandered" whenever my kids have had yoghurts in their school lunchboxes. The assistant and I both laughed about it and she let me buy my teaspoons. .

Unless you get an assistant who is particularly abrasive and rude to you then I think you just have to have a sense of humour and accept the explanation. These people have a job to do. No need to make it any harder than it needs to be. Oh, and most of the ones I know are definitely NOT brain dead. What a ridiculous comment.

It may be a bit nanny-state-ish but the regulations on drugs are there for a reason.

[scottswomanlyhead]

If you were threatened by security, it sounds like you got ridiculously fucking aggressive!

It's the law and is there to protect vulnerable people. Yes, you could well go to other shops and buy masses of pain-relieving products should you so desire, but the regulation which governs this exists to stop people abusing themselves either by accidental or intentional overdose.

You may be able to buy larger amounts under the supervision of a pharamcist.

Oh, by the way, judging by your complete overreaction, i'd say YABU

[BabyMummy29]

It's ridiculous. Every time I want to buy stuff I get the lecture about "Is it for yourself, have you taken it before, don't take it more than 4 times a day or for more than 3 days" etc etc from some kid at the checkout.

I like the way in the US you can buy as many painkillers as you want and nobody bats an eyelid rather than the stupid nanny state nonsense we have over here.

Every time I know someone is going to the states I ask them to bring me back 500

[BradleyCoopersCurlyPerm]

And I rather think it more a safeguard against accidental misuse as opposed to intentional.

[BradleyCoopersCurlyPerm]

Well eating copious mars bars in one sitting won't kill the average person. Granted it may make you a bit sick. Throwing copious amounts of paracetamol down your gullet in one sitting is likely to do a lot of irreversible damage. And in this age of "where there's blame there's a claim" then I can't see why any store would want to leave themselves open to legal action.

I know you can store hop to buy more, but it is at least a safeguard against misuse

[Want2bSupermum]

It's a stupid rule that retailers are being forced to carry out. I hate rules like this because if someone really wants to kill themselves I would think they would find a way to do it. Paracetamol being one way but there are countless others. While others have cited research on this thread about how it has reduced the number of overdoses, I wonder the same number of people with mental health issues are being identified.

I had a problem buying calpol for DD and something else for DS when we were in England last year. I was in Sainsburys and luckily they saw I had two children and were willing to speak to the paediatrician using my phone. Rules are rules and complaining to customer service isn't getting you anywhere. Complain to your MP. I agree it is a stupid rule but I think YABVU to complain to the supermarket.

[3asAbird]

op how much calpol were you trying to buy? with something else ie tablets?

I thought it was 2packs per shop.

last tiime brought some from poundaand.

brought 2lots local chemist too.

calpol contains paracetemol not sure enough kill yourself though.

if really wanted myself go retail park where could go 4-5shops who including big supermarket that sell .

bit sainsburys has chemist counter and mstly self serve.

not sure whats stop me buying at chemist then going self serve.

if they truly wanted to make it safer then all drugs be restricted to chemists.

[Fakebook]

I'm embarrassed for you OP. I'm glad I'm not you.

[FerretsRfun]

It may be the law for the supermarkets but it's a bit daft when you consider that you can buy in bulk from some places

I manage to buy over 100 paracetamol pills in bulk from Booker's (£2.30ish) while heavily pregnant without anyone even asking for so much as any ID or why i need them especially as my card show's me to be a trained monkey cleaner for my parents B&B

However they are only following the Law

All i can say is that i hope you didn't shout or be rude to any of the people who worked at the store as they were only doing their jobs in refusing and it's not like they can override something like that on the system,

If you do need a lot of painkillers may i suggest getting a card for your local wholesaler?
Personally i like to keep a stock as i always forget them in the shopping :)

[TheWitTank]

Nothing to do with "brain dead" staff (charming) or even the opinion of the manager. It's the LAW. There is nothing they can do, so you throwing a hissy fit and nearly being escorted out only served to make you appear a proper moron and had no achievable aim. I can only imagine how bad you must have been for them to summon security...I second the Kalms idea, and perhaps a long lie down in a darkened room??

[meditrina]

I was miffed once when I was trying to buy calpol, hot lemons and a pack of aspirin together and was refused, as it took me over that supermarket's painkiller guideline (and as we were all stuffed full of bad colds, I wasn't terribly resilient in the face of even tiny set backs that day). And doubly miffed as there wasn't anyone who could over-ride the letter of the guideline.

But (unless the supermarket has a pharmacy) then that's right. Checkout staff and general supermarket managers should not be making decisions on whether to permit larger purchases.

I have found my local pharmacy to be much more flexible. And was amazed when I needed to buy some in France last year and could buy any amount (got a box of 128 - a standard size there).

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Isn't the absolute 'safe' limit for paracetamol 10 x 500mg tablets though? Just ONE box has more than that...

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

I don't think you're being unreasonable OP.

To the posters berating you with the 'paracetamol overdose' lecture, there is no restriction on alcohol, razor blades or bleach. All of these things, and many others readily stocked, can kill you quite easily.

I buy a lot of paracetamol, I keep a store of it. I just buy it everytime I'm in the supermarket and keep it in the cupboard.

I've noticed customer service on a bit of a decline recently; perhaps it's the fallout from Christmas when customers are difficult but essentially, shoppers are the bread and butter, however much some think not.

I writing a letter of complaint to Asda and a letter of praise to M&S; both for customer service. I'm sure there's good, bad and indifferent in every supermarket. It's down to the individual who serves you; pot-luck really.

[Electryone]

But it is a sorry state of affairs when the consumers are rights are restricted because of the in action of the state in dealing with overdosing of painkillers.

Well you have either never seen anyone dying a slow lengthy death from liver failure then or worked with psychiatric patients (like I do) who can be impulsive when they are feeling low.