ID'd for over the counter medication

[Cateyes113]

At Superdrug pharmacy.. asked if it was for myself, I said yes. Then the woman on the counter said, 'Sorry but I'll need to see your ID as you look really young.'
I'm 31, and laughed.
Afterwards I just thought, oh come on, I am clearly over 18.
Anyone else had this? If it were the alcohol under 25 thing ok but I thought this was a little ridiculous

I’m 30 and I get ID’d all the time. For all sorts. I’ve never once thought it ridiculous. It’s hardly an ordeal showing my driving licence

YAWWWWN I look sooo young, it's such a cross to bear.

Some 'problem' to have eh?!

No, it’s bearable @MurmuratingStarling

It’s just an irritation. It doesn’t even necessarily mean you look particularly young.

[quote Namelessnancy]@Maverickess I completely agree the pressure on stores to be responsible is the driving force. It's generally pretty understandable too although in the case of OTC medications I wonder if it poses a problem where children and young people are acting as carers. That's a whole other problem to solve though.[/quote]
Yes, I think the issue is that people don't like the medium it's presented through - the shop staff. People have already said here, and there's often other comments on similar threads about being ID'd about 'power' the shop staff only doing it for the 'power' it gives them, when it's actually about the retailers covering their arses and ensuring their staff do so by making policies like this and punishing the staff that don't follow them.
I don't know the ins and outs of OTC med sales, but I do know that you can write whatever policy you like, but unless you have proof that it's being followed (logs of ID shown, refused sales, mystery customer reports) when something goes wrong having the policy means nothing.

I agree it's annoying. I've recently been asked for ID for stone coloured spray paint and to accept my Sainsbury delivery, which didn't contain any alcohol or medicines.

[quote Namelessnancy]@Maverickess I completely agree the pressure on stores to be responsible is the driving force. It's generally pretty understandable too although in the case of OTC medications I wonder if it poses a problem where children and young people are acting as carers. That's a whole other problem to solve though.[/quote]
In that instance we have to decide whether the person buying has the capacity to consent. Just like if a child is coming to pick up their parents prescription. It’s down to us as pharmacists to use our professional judgement.

This is interesting. When I had covid I sent DD to buy lemsip. They wouldn't serve her. I was outside in the car so I had to go in and get it. This was at the point when guidelines allowed us to do so but I felt awful I was risking further spread.

My daughter was was asked for ID in an
American bar as you have to be over twenty one to drink. She was almost forty at the time and was thrilled.

@EricScrantona

This is interesting. When I had covid I sent DD to buy lemsip. They wouldn't serve her. I was outside in the car so I had to go in and get it. This was at the point when guidelines allowed us to do so but I felt awful I was risking further spread.

How old is DD? In most pharmacies the general rule of thumb is not to serve if anyone looks under 16. If it was essential then the healthcare team would get the pharmacist involved and then we’d ask a few questions and make a decision based on that. The reason she probably got refused for the lemsip is because it’s got phenylepherine a stimulant in it, and if it was bought from a “large, well known” pharmacy they aren’t allowed to sell to under 16 as a big icon flashes up on the screen to confirm age.

It really does depend on the pharmacy.

Where I used to work Challenge 25 was used for all age restricted products so paracetamol, lottery (when it was 16), 15 rated DVDs etc. We had to type what age we thought the person was and it automatically came up on the screen if we put 25 or less and we had to ID.

Found this thread because I got id’d today trying to pick up a hedge trimmer. I’m with you, it’s laughable that I’m still being challenged on whether I’m over 18. And some of us don’t carry id around all the time so it is a pain. The sooner the digital id pilot that is being run in cinemas gets rolled out everywhere else the better. Find it mad that in this day and age where we can do everything on phone we’re expected to be carrying around a card or passport to prove to someone that we’re a certain age.

winds me up as well when people say it’s a complement- I’d rather just be able to get on with the things I need to do and buy than be constantly told it’s a good thing people don’t think I look my age. Condescending af imo.

vent over. Ignore the above if it annoys you, 99% pms, 1% annoyance that I’m gonna have to either resort to clippers tomorrow or go all the way back to same shop with id to get what I need.

The OTC medicine seems to vary by store. My local Boots has all antihistamines behind the pharmacy counter and you have to queue for ages (so I buy it at a smaller local pharmacy). When I was in central London recently though all of the antihistamines in a Boots there were just on the shelf.

Why on earth do they want ID from someone wanting to buy shelves? Did you ask them?