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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

ID for buying calpol?

172 replies

Lovelyjubbbly · 31/01/2024 16:15

I was in Morrisons this morning grabbing some shopping and a bottle of calpol for my son who is not well.

I got ID for one bottle of calpol as she said she needed proof I was old enough I’m 30!!!
is there really any need for this pritty obvious I’m not 16 , 18 or even 21.

so what happens if a younger person has a child early at 16 or 18? And have limited family who can get them it if there child is ill?
surely this needs looked at.

I could see the point if i was buying 2 or even 3 bottles but I done my normal shop plus one bottle of medicine!

absolutely livid. So I currently left Morrisons with no medicine for my son I’m I AIBU for been annoyed?

OP posts:
Serencwtch · 31/01/2024 20:33

Akire · 31/01/2024 20:25

If you buy non alcoholic drinks but in glass bottles that say “no alcohol” they still ID here. Had argument with the supermarket because it clear says there is Nothing in it to be ID over! They wouldn’t shift on it. Apparently you can’t even buy anything looks like alcoholic…..

That's to avoid promoting drinking behaviour among minors. The concern is it would normalize drinking for children and therefore more likely to drink alcohol underage.

I think alcohol free lager is alot healthier than energy drinks or vapes tbh but can imagine it becoming the next headache for teachers to deal with

newaccountoldlurker · 31/01/2024 20:57

KreedKafer · 31/01/2024 17:32

Yes, usually I sympathise with the staff in these situations, but applying a 'Think 25' policy for a bottle of Calpol purchased along with groceries is just absurd.

In a country with compulsory ID cards, it wouldn't matter because everyone would always have ID on them anyway, but lots of adults don't have photo ID and if they do, it's their passport which they understandably do not routinely carry around with them.

It doesn't matter if an age restricted product is bought along with groceries or not, why should any shop worker risk prosecution failing a test purchase? I see annoyed people day in day out at work who have been refused sales but I will always back my members staff who have asked, it's their job to follow the policy, and the law 🤷🏻‍♀️

slashlover · 31/01/2024 21:09

lola8345 · 31/01/2024 17:52

@mitogoshi

paracetamol has been restricted for years, If I wanted to OD. I. would just visit several pharmacies/supermarkets. Same with Calpol.

Restricting purchase will never stop an overdose.

Ignorant argument.

Actually, it has been found to be mostly effective in reducing damage.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00002018-200730060-00002

The severity of overdose appears to have decreased since the maximum permitted packet size was reduced, with five studies reporting a reduction in the number of severe overdoses (measured by numbers of tablets ingested, serum paracetamol concentrations and usage of antidotes). Only two studies reported an increase in the number of severe overdoses.

Quick question - did you contact the company to complain about the policy or just have a go at the cashier following the policy?

slashlover · 31/01/2024 21:13

LambriniBobinIsleworth · 31/01/2024 19:56

Got denied two bottles of Chardonnay in a full weekly shop at Sainsbury's once when I was 24. Was shopping with my partner who was the same age as me and who I owned a house with. When we argued we would hardly be buying a hundred quids worth or onions, cat food, crunchy nut, washing powder and other boring household stuff just to get a couple of bottles of wine the checkout lady just shrugged and said it was policy. Neither of us had ID with our DOB on, but ridiculously my partner had his warrant card as he was a police officer... which was deemed not good enough. We had to leave the wine.

Challenge 25 has been around since at LEAST 2009, have you really never heard of it before?

SalviaDivinorum · 31/01/2024 21:21

Akire · 31/01/2024 20:25

If you buy non alcoholic drinks but in glass bottles that say “no alcohol” they still ID here. Had argument with the supermarket because it clear says there is Nothing in it to be ID over! They wouldn’t shift on it. Apparently you can’t even buy anything looks like alcoholic…..

I shouldn't have been ID checked even if it was full alcohol gin.....

I've been legal to buy alcohol for almost 50 years now.

HateItWhenABitchLetsHimselfSlide · 31/01/2024 21:38

SweetPetrichor · 31/01/2024 18:25

The only person denying your child medication is you for not carrying ID. Don’t blame checkout staff for enforcing a widely known, long standing shop policy.

Why would a 30 year old woman think she needs to take ID to buy fucking Calpol?

Mumaway · 31/01/2024 21:54

It's not the law. The law is 16. Company policy might be think 25 (although that's generally for booze), but there is definitely a clear difference between a 16 year old and a 30 year old which should be sensibly acknowledged.

VanilleA · 31/01/2024 21:56

Lovelyjubbbly · 31/01/2024 16:45

I am still livid! It’s ridiculous my son is ill in the house and couldn’t manage to get him what he needed?

but I went to my local boots just not far down the road and got it no problem no hesitation?

I did lose my sh*t lol! But I did apologise after it’s just frustrating she knew bloody fine well I wasn’t the age they needed to ask for.

the law definitely needs changed feel sorry for these younger mums and dads who actually are going to get these things for the poor children and are told no

You're being beyond unreasonable for "loosing your shit" that poor member of staff just has to do what they are told to do

VanilleA · 31/01/2024 21:58

edissa · 31/01/2024 19:35

This reminded me of a similar wtf moment I had recently, also involving calpol. Both me and my toddler were unwell recently (I mean, I still am 🙁) so sent my partner out for supplies. He attempted to purchase both a box of paracetamol and a bottle of calpol and was told he had to put one back as he couldn't be sold both 🤯 I get several boxes of paracetamol not being allowed for obvious reasons. But a box of paracetamol and a bottle of calpol?! So he had to trek to 2 different places to get each. Madness.

It's not madness it's so its harder to kill yourself

VanilleA · 31/01/2024 22:00

Brefugee · 31/01/2024 19:14

again: you live in a country with no government mandated ID. It is BATSHIT of the highest order to expect people to have any, in that case.

As an aside: i live in Germany. There is nothing as good as feminax for period pain. I usually only get to UK once a year. Which means that every drugstore/pharmacy i pass sees me go in to buy 2 packs. 10 or 12 on one day round Kings Cross once. If i really wanted to overdose that is zero effort.

Show quote history

It's not about it being effort. Though for people in more remote areas it will be more effort. It's about making it a series of decisions to buy more. Each decision giving a chance to go hmm. Actually no.

puncheur · 01/02/2024 06:20

Mumaway · 31/01/2024 21:54

It's not the law. The law is 16. Company policy might be think 25 (although that's generally for booze), but there is definitely a clear difference between a 16 year old and a 30 year old which should be sensibly acknowledged.

This is incorrect. There is no legal age limit on purchasing paracetamol or any other medicine. It’s just something that some shops have made up.

edissa · 01/02/2024 06:41

@VanilleA
Well yes I'd gathered that much. My point being however if you're of that frame of mind, I very much doubt a bottle of calpol would be a person's go to. More likely to choose tablets (at least statistically).

Vegetus · 01/02/2024 07:11

I got ID'd for WD40 not so long ago.

renthead · 01/02/2024 07:20

You're being beyond unreasonable for "loosing your shit" that poor member of staff just has to do what they are told to do

Yes but staff obviously have discretion. That poor member of staff is a complete idiot id they think ID was appropriate or necessary in this situation. I'd probably have lost my shit too.

shams05 · 01/02/2024 07:30

I've never been asked for id for Calpol or paracetamol for that matter. the workers in Asda will look at you, gauge for themselves that you're ok to buy it then press the Do not challenge button and put it through.
OH was once asked for ID in Range, he jokingly took off his woolly hat to show them his salt and pepper head but they refused to accept! He was buying a small can of lighter fluid.

Zola1 · 01/02/2024 07:36

When I was about 19 my daughter was 1, I was refused Calpol a couple of times due to looking young and I didnt drive then so didn't carry ID

VanilleA · 01/02/2024 07:37

renthead · 01/02/2024 07:20

You're being beyond unreasonable for "loosing your shit" that poor member of staff just has to do what they are told to do

Yes but staff obviously have discretion. That poor member of staff is a complete idiot id they think ID was appropriate or necessary in this situation. I'd probably have lost my shit too.

They don't necessarily. They are given a rule, a limit, a procedure. They have to stick within these. Like a pilot. There's some discretion but within the limits and procedures.

Katemax82 · 01/02/2024 07:40

I clicked yanbu but seriously, at 30 you most probably look younger, and if you look under 25 you have to show I'd. If the cashier was unsure they weren't willing to risk it in case you were a test purchaser. They get endless think 25 drilled into them and how they could be fined if they slip up

Original poster
Lovelyjubbbly · 01/02/2024 07:50

@malmi yes I usually do have some actually I did have a little bit I managed to give him but he’s just turned 6 in December so I needed the 6+ calpol for his age as when they turn six they are no longer on the infant one! I also have a 5 year old daughter so you can imagine the sickness bugs that come out school and nursery on a regular basis! 😄

OP posts:
NamelessNancy · 01/02/2024 07:53

There is no legal minimum age for buying paracetamol. This is store policy.

Personally I think it's ridiculous. It disadvantages young carers and young people in negligent or abusive homes who may need to access pain relief for themselves or those they care for.

Restricted pack sizes are a different matter. As above these have been shown to reduce suicides.

BeyondMyWits · 01/02/2024 07:56

Medicines are not generally age restricted products... there is no law that says you cannot buy calpol if you are under 16 even.

unless they contain alcohol (rescue remedy for instance).

Shops decide their own rules.

Saschka · 01/02/2024 08:13

Jijithecat · 31/01/2024 17:19

I don't understand why you wouldn't just show some ID and get the Calpol you needed for your child? If anyone should be annoyed it should be your child because of the decision you chose to make.

Not everyone HAS photo id, and there is no minimum age to buy Calpol, so why would anyone think they needed their passport to buy it?

Saschka · 01/02/2024 08:30

It's the industry standard to restrict paracetamol sales to 16 and under. It's been that way for years

Except it isn’t, because I’ve never been ID’d for any kind of painkillers, and neither have most people on here. OP wasn’t ID’d in the next shop she went in, so clearly practice is variable.

DesiredAffect · 01/02/2024 08:34

Go buy it somewhere else then it’s not hard to do or even better get it off Amazon

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