Why does Boots gatekeep over the counter medicines?

[Waferbiscuit]

My local Boots has moved all over the counter medicine to behind the counter in the pharmacists section. Items like Nurofen, Calpol or Imodium now have to be obtained by standing in line and requesting it from the pharmacists assistant or pharmacist who then quiz you on need, give instructions for use as if I've never used it before or can't read the label etc. (see photos)

The areas where these items once were available in the main store now are filled with first aid, vitamins and foot files and creams.

The queue at the pharmacy counter is already nuts and all this does is make the queue longer.

Why does Boots do this?

Duty of care? Nanny state?

Concern about customers bulk buying medication?

Genuine concern that staff aren't reading instructions and taking medication properly?

One thing I miss about North America is the easy access to over the counter medicine!

My first thought was shoplifting!

I buy most of that in a supermarket anyway. But some non-prescription items aren’t allowed to be sold off the shelf.

Shoplifting, addiction, inappropriate medicine, people try to treat themselves with insane things all the time.

No harm for most people in getting basic advice. And it reduces thefts.

Theft. They are really small for high value items and easy to pocket

No idea. I like to have a good read of the boxes and ingredients myself to help make a decision so hate having to involve staff. The strangest one was when my mum was trying to buy Camamile lotion for shingles. The woman in the chemist asked mum if the GP had advised she buy some. Mum said no and she said, in that case, she couldn’t sell it to her 😂

Of course, shoplifting, hadn't even considered that. Friends in retail have said shoplifting has increased dramatically so that makes sense!

I can't be bothered to queue for painkillers l just go to the supermarket.

I'm also sick of the dragon on the pharmacy counter in Tesco and Super drug who are the worse
I know they have a duty of care and are covering their own backsides.
Are they for you
What are taking them for
Are you on any other medication
I just say that they are for my ndn.
to avoid all the inquisition
Moving Diacalm etc to the pharmacy counter is going to clog up thpharmacy counter is just going to clog up the system

I hate it when they quiz you about what it’s for. I always say period pain, especially if it’s a man, they often get really flustered at that. Serves them right for asking

I don't think they do it because 'how can we annoy customers?' was their last staff training session

I presume safety and or addiction

It's not as if generic painkillers are exactly high value.

It may deter shoplifters. It also deters shoppers. I can't think of one reason to set foot in Boots.

Really? a man who works on a pharmacy counter gets flustered when you say period pain??

Shoplifting, for sure.

I was in a Boots on Saturday and picked up painkillers from the usual shelf. Perhaps there's a major issue with theft / addiction near this one.

Cough medicines have been behind the counter for a while, but whenever I've asked for Robitussin I've been given it with only basic rules like "don't take it for more than x days".

also these medicines are usually only sold in limited doses aren't they so if you have someone shoplifting 3 packets of paracetamol 5 packets of lemsip 9 ibuprofen then it's a risk to health. I think they are being responsible.

Theft
Shoplifting is going up by a huge amount and costing companies a fortune, which they then pass on to us, the consumer.

I haven’t noticed this in my local Boots but I would hate this! I have IBS and so take Imodium fairly regularly. I’d hate to have to request it from behind the counter with a queue of people behind me listening! Ditto a lot of common but embarrassing illnesses I’d imagine.

Also as OP said, the queue for prescriptions is usually quite long anyway, why increase it?!

Shoplifting and addiction.

Using the USA is a poor comparison- they’re medicated up to the eyeballs and can get very strong medication over the counter because of the cost of seeing a doctor or getting a prescription to do it properly!
Trust me, we don’t want the US system here.

My local pharmacy was like this - they actually made me cry when I was pregnant and trying to remember why I needed some medication that was behind the counter. I left without it in the end.

Well if people want ibuprofen they should go to Poundland. They currently have it on offer 3 packets for a pound. I guess they are not arsed that it's illegal to sell 3 packets at a time

‘It's not as if generic painkillers are exactly high value.’

they are if your an addict living on the street with little cash. Easy to go and sweep a shelf of pain meds into a bag and run if you’re desperate and they’re there

our boots have 2 queues so it isn't to bad surely people can see you buy immodium anyway it's in your basket or hand they will be standing behind you ay the checkout . I understand your unease though I have a bowel issue and need to buy medication for it but people really aren't that interested in what you are buying.

Definitely shoplifting. Immodium was one of the main items to be stolen from Wilkos. As soon as they put it out, it went "missing".

It actually worked out well for me once when I was at the pharmacy at Boots asking for thrush treatment and also carrying a packet of Always. The pharmacist suggested switching to unscented pads for a few days before going for the thrush teatment, and she was right.
I went back and thanked her and she said she dealt with this issue at least daily!

I read somewhere that immodium Is or has an opiate in it I'm sure that's why they are going missing.

I cannot use the period pain excuse anymore, I am too old!

I have to buy Solpadeine OTC as my arthritis is getting really bad, the pain in my ankles and feet actually stopped me sleeping last night, no good people saying see the GP, I have tried and they will not prescribe painkillers for arthritis so over the counter is all I can do, I just show the pharmacist my deformed lumpy hands and tell them I need it for my arthritis otherwise I cannot function😀