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!

[JuniperHeartwand]

Why were you denied Calpol OP? Was this all on one occasion?

YABU as someone else pointed out this law has actually had the desired effect re overdoses.

[backwardpossom]

It's nothing to do with age restriction, OP.

[Woz22]

At least we can all agree to disagree whether constructive comments or non constructive , 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. The same State has no restriction on unhealthy items at the check out tills or unhealthy items on display at a cheap price then healthy items which are more expensive , and considering this country has one of the worst obesity statistics in the world I think everybody should be consider that! This is an opinion and I welcome all opinions

[cuttingpicassostoenails]

An overdose of high sugar, unhealthy food will not kill you in a matter of hours. An overdose of paracetamol will do just that.

I agree that it can be annoying and inconvenient but annoying and inconvenient crops up a lot in life.

[Justforlaughs]

I don't understand the law, tbh. You cannot purchase more than 2 packets of painkillers in one transaction - however, you can go into a pharmacy and buy 1 box which contains more than 2x the number of tablets in one supermarket box
However, the issue is not with large supermarket chains who uphold the law. If you have a point, it is that certain staff have told you to put through the items in more than one transaction, in the past - this is the real issue!
As a "brain dead" member of staff, myself, I would not risk a fine/ conviction for the sake of not upsetting you.

[southwest1]

You can only buy two packets at a time in the supermarkets, but you can get three in the pound shop!

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

Why are you hassling the supermarket manager though?

Why don't you make an appointment at your MP's surgery?

[manticlimactic]

How many in the packs southwest? There may be less tablets in the £1 shop ones.

[cardibach]

The reason for that, Justforlaughs is that there is a trained pharmacist (and trained pharmacy assistants) on duty at a chemist who can approve the sale. It isn't fool proof, but it means that at least a trained person has had eyes on the purchaser to make some sort of assessment. They will often ask who they are for, whether you have taken them before and the purpose of the purchase too. All a bit different from just being scanned at the checkout.

[chandlery]

I tried to buy a pregnancy test and 2 packs of paracetamol in the same purchase (part of weekly shop not a random selection) and was refused because the till said it was too many drugs? Took the preg test off and allowed the sale!

The shop assistant and I were a bit bemused :-)

[WallyBantersJunkBox]

I agree Cardi. I buy drugs such as Nurofen and Calpol in bulk when I am back in the UK. I always go to the pharmacist for a chat, show them my work permit etc and explain the situation. I'm also normally with my family or friends and buying a huge basket of other favorite Boots things.

I've never had any hassle or the transaction rejected. I have had it broken up into several transaction though.

[HyvaPaiva]

I believe you can buy more than one packet of Kalms at a time. Treat yourself.

[HavantGuard]

Do you really welcome all opinions?

I have one that involves a cliff and some brisk exercise...

[GlitzAndGiggles]

The staff are doing their job. Why kick up a fuss? Why not wait until the next day and buy more then?

[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.

[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.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

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

[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).

[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??

[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 :)

[Fakebook]

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

[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.

[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.

[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

[BradleyCoopersCurlyPerm]

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