So tried to buy 3 x 16 ibuprofen, some for me and some for son for his holiday hangover cure. However the checkout said nope! I have exceeded the max allowed(2 packs). At the next checkout was a guy with 6 whisky bottles, no check was made to see if he was off to top himself..
I paid for 2 packs, then paid for the 3rd at another checkout.
Bizarre
Local garage wouldn't let me buy one box each of paracetamol and ibuprofen. Agreed very odd!
Yes that's why they're sold in 16s.
I can buy whisky by the case and no one would care so why ibuprofen?
I agree with you bruneep. Seems ridiculous. But people are more likely to try topping themselves on painkillers etc than they are whisky. 😯
People tend not to commit suicide by downing bottle after bottle of whisky, they take high risk over the counter meds as they're cheap, easy to get hold off and easy to take. As it's often a spontaneous thing they tend not even bother walking to next shop for another box.
I've just spent nearly £200 on groceries, despite this I'm obviously away home to top myself imminently. 🙄
Local Tesco, wanted 3 packs of Paracetemol, silly billy on till refused to sell me 3 then needed supervisor to take 1 pack back to the pharmacy isle, not allowed to be left on till, and supervisor needed to void sale,chap behind says ill buy the extra packet for you to hurry up the queue, silly billy says not allowed because yore buying them for him(me) a total stranger.
Chap behind then tries to buy a bottle of wine, and gets asked his date of birth to prove he was over 21, he was well old at least 50, and not happy at all.
A popular high st chemist chain feel it's OK to sell 32 packs of Ibuprofen/Codeine - that's just over 400mg Codeine and 6400mg Ibuprofen.
No idea of the toxic dose of either but it sounds like a lot for an 'over the counter' purchase to me.
Project they're obeying the law as Paracetamols deaths were and still are a very common cause of suicide that's why they reduced the packet size and brought the law in. There's no need for you to have 3 packs of Paracetamol that's over a weeks worth of meds.
A popular high st chemist chain feel it's OK to sell 32 packs of Ibuprofen/Codeine - that's just over 400mg Codeine and 6400mg Ibuprofen.
Yeah that's a chemist they have different laws.
If you feel suicidal why bother wait in the queue to pay for 2 or more boxes of tablets, just nick them, what have you got to loose.
But please if you get to that place, chat to someone first.
I've just spent nearly £200 on groceries, despite this I'm obviously away home to top myself imminently.
you could look at it the other way...
...these are medicines which in some countries are only available from authorised pharmacies under the supervision of a pharmacist. What "we" have done is relax the rules so you can buy some drugs over the counter in ordinary shops subject to certain safeguards. Perhaps you are not really treating the medicine with the respect it is due - exactly because it is so readily available.
As above, paracetamol is the baddie. If it doesn't kill you as you wished it can leave you with life time liver damage if I'm not mistaken
there are calls for further restrictions - 2x16 500mg paras is easily enough to kill you; 2x16 ibuprofen would potentially make you pretty poorly too
The difference between pills and whiskey - you could swallow a couple of handfuls of pills, go to sleep and not wake up - you'd have to be pretty determined to drink enough (without bringing it back up) in order to achieve the same fate.
the really sad thing is, with paracetamol you'd probably wake up & feel fine, so not go to a doctor
then your liver packs up a few days later
There's no need for you to have 3 packs of Paracetamol that's over a weeks worth of meds.
Not really. When my wife had her c-section she was on paracetamol, ibroprofen and tramadol.
Sainsburys wouldn't sell two packs of paracetamol and two packs of ibroprofen together until I proved a point to them. Even then, we had to go down every two days, which when she couldn't drive for 6 weeks proved a bit of a pain with a newborn.
It all seems a bit of a nanny state law to me. If I'm gonna kill myself I'll find a way - maybe even as radical as buying 12 packs of paracetamol from 6 different shops.
If someone's that determine to kill themselves, that's their choice and not something we should legislate against.
Local Tesco, wanted 3 packs of Paracetemol, silly billy on till refused to sell me 3 then needed supervisor to take 1 pack back to the pharmacy isle, not allowed to be left on till, and supervisor needed to void sale,chap behind says ill buy the extra packet for you to hurry up the queue, silly billy says not allowed because yore buying them for him(me) a total stranger.
Its not the silly billy at the till - its the till. The till detects the sale and won't let it go through. It does that because the person sitting at the till isn't a pharmacist and isn't qualified to advise that they are selling a customer 6 times the lethal dose of a drug.
Paracetamol is a lot more dangerous than people give it credit for. Most of the people on the liver transplant list are because of paracetamol overdoses. Not suicide attempts or big overdoses but just taking a bit too much a bit too often. We have a very casual attitude to it as its been around for so long and because they are sold at the same price as blackjacks and fruit salads, but its has been suggested that if paracetamol was new to the market today it wouldn't be licensed for sale, a new drug couldn't such adverse effects and make it to market.
Hmmm, google say ibuprofen not that toxic, codeine however 😯
Not really. When my wife had her c-section she was on paracetamol, ibroprofen and tramadol.
Sainsburys wouldn't sell two packs of paracetamol and two packs of ibroprofen together until I proved a point to them. Even then, we had to go down every two days, which when she couldn't drive for 6 weeks proved a bit of a pain with a newborn.
Surely you got that on prescription and being a new mother you get one year of free prescriptions.
Or are you making it up?
Nope - it wasn't prescribed. She was told to take it, but they didn't offer a prescription.
To be honest, I never considered that. We should have really got it prescribed and taken advantage of the freebies.
I bought 2 boxes of 32 paracetamol and a box of 64 400mg ibuprofen at the Sainsburys pharmacy last week. All the Doris behind the counter asked was have I taken them before.
It all seems a bit of a nanny state law to me. If I'm gonna kill myself I'll find a way - maybe even as radical as buying 12 packs of paracetamol from 6 different shops.If someone's that determine to kill themselves, that's their choice and not something we should legislate against.
You don't seem to understand that the state can't stop someone from committing suicide, they can however not make it too easy for them.
As Drac points out "it's often a spontaneous thing", suicidal thoughts often don't last. Dismissing as "a nanny state law" something which is clearly designed to help people who are not necessarily thinking straight is really quite sad.
silly billy says not allowed because yore buying them for him(me) a total stranger.
But you're asking him to break the law for you (a complete stranger).
It all seems a bit of a nanny state law to me. If I'm gonna kill myself I'll find a way - maybe even as radical as buying 12 packs of paracetamol from 6 different shops.
Like I say it was brought in to stop the spontaneous suicide attempts who won't walk shop to shop. It worked too it did drop the figures considerably.
Hmmm, google say ibuprofen not that toxic,
Oh it is. Gastric Intesterine problems and renal and liver failure good enough for you?
Plain cheapo Walgreens (equivalent of Superdrug) own brand paracetamol available in 500s and 100s. It's also three times the price of Asda.
certain safeguards. Perhaps you are not really treating the medicine with the respect it is due
I'm very careful about what I take. I was reluctant to take GP prescribed co-codamol despite not being able to sleep after I fell skiing. I do however live in a house with more than one person in it. One of which suffers with reasonably regular migraines, the other currently experiencing regular headaches as a symptom of hay fever.
I dispute POS software flagging sales being any sort of 'safeguard'.
I dispute POS software flagging sales being any sort of 'safeguard'.
Why?
Paracetamol is a lot more dangerous than people give it credit for. Most of the people on the liver transplant list are because of paracetamol overdoses. Not suicide attempts or big overdoses but just taking a bit too much a bit too often. We have a very casual attitude to it as its been around for so long and because they are sold at the same price as blackjacks and fruit salads, but its has been suggested that if paracetamol was new to the market today it wouldn't be licensed for sale, a new drug couldn't such adverse effects and make it to market.
Very much this. It would be even more restricted if it was new drug than it is now, it's a very effective anti-inflammatory muscoskeletal pain relief. So much so were getting to prescribe IV in trauma cases.
Oh it is. Gastric Intesterine problems and renal and liver failure good enough for you?
Ouch, glad I only take 1 in a blue moon
I hope not - that's illegal (in ENgland anyway, not sure but I assume wales is same)Plain cheapo Walgreens (equivalent of Superdrug) own brand paracetamol available in 500s
Can't [u][b]sell[/b][/u] in bigger boxes than 32 or more than 100 at a time (96 in practical terms) without a prescription
There's no need for you to have 3 packs of Paracetamol that's over a weeks worth of meds.
You might be going away for more than a week - or going with someone else.
Boots seem to have a sensible policy on this - you can buy pretty much as you can justify to the person on the pharmacy counter, which is quite a lot if you look like a well adjusted action sports klutz. You do have to dig a round a little more to find the cheap generic tablets though.
Plain cheapo Walgreens (equivalent of Superdrug) own brand paracetamol available in 500s
It's a Pharamacy so nothing like Superdrug. You won't be able to walk and pick up a box pay for them and walk out.
On the back of the pack:
GSL - General Sales List - can be sold over the counter at any shop (max. 2x16's for paracetamol and ibuprofen)
P - Pharmacy only (larger packs, and 8/500 co-codamol)
PoM - Prescription Only Medicine - need a doctor's script (much larger packs and the good shit - 30/500 co-codamol)
CD - Controlled Drug - Like PoM, but more stringent prescribing and dispensing rules, along with annual returns of records to Home Office
As above, it's only going to work to stop 'non-serious' suicide attempts. If one was serious, you'd make the effort to go to multiple places and get 2 boxes several times over.
Except you wouldn't anyway, you'd probably use a more reliable method.
It worked too it did drop the figures considerably.
When Britain swopped from coal gas to north sea gas and committing suicide wasn't as easy as sticking your head in the oven the suicide rate also dropped significantly.
It's always a good idea to try and help to create the conditions whereby people with suicidal thoughts have to think twice.
Why do people with apparently no empathy dismiss the nanny sate ? What did nanny do to them when they were little that makes them still angry with her ?
Plain cheapo Walgreens (equivalent of Superdrug) own brand paracetamol available in 500s
It's a Pharamacy so nothing like Superdrug. You won't be able to walk and pick up a box pay for them and walk out.
You might be going away for more than a week - or going with someone else.
You can buy them anywhere so not an issue, people can also buy there own.
Boots seem to have a sensible policy on this - you can buy pretty much as you can justify to the person on the pharmacy counter,
Yeah. Once again it's a Pharmacy so different laws and why they are there as you talk to a trained advisor or pharmacist who is licensed to prescribe. So when you need you over a weeks worth you visit them not Tesco.
I tried to buy 2 packs of ibuprofen and 2 packs of loratadine (hay fever tablets) in Tesco and was refused - was told it was illegal to buy more than 2 packs total, regardless of what they are. Pretty sure that's bollards of the highest order, but I guess the lady on the checkout was just repeating what she'd been told.
I disagree that there's no reason to buy 3 packs of paracetamol or ibuprofen. There are plenty of good reasons, it's just easier and safer on the whole to not expect checkout staff to make a judgement on whether an individual has a valid reason.
I thought superdrug was a pharmacy too?
I disagree that there's no reason to buy 3 packs of paracetamol or ibuprofen. There are plenty of good reasons, it's just easier and safer on the whole to not expect checkout staff to make a judgement on whether an individual has a valid reason.
Go to a Pharmacy then not a supermarket as they're not qualified or licensed to sell you any more.
I thought superdrug was a pharmacy too?
Nope. There may be an odd one with them in but they're not a Pharmacy.
The same rules apply to Beechams Powders, which caught me out.
Is this an actual 'law'? or something else?
I just go round twice if I need two packets, so it's not very effective if it is a 'law'.
The same rules apply to Beechams Powders, which caught me out.
The only active ingredient in them is Paracetamol the rest is crap to make it taste 'nice' and to make you feel cosy. Plus they can charge you 25x the price for Paracetamol.
Boots seem to have a sensible policy on this - you can buy pretty much as you can justify to the person on the [b]pharmacy[/b] counter, which is quite a lot if you look like a well adjusted action sports klutz. You do have to dig a round a little more to find the cheap generic tablets though
Its not a "boots policy" its the medicines act (and its not unlimited but higher quantities than an ordinary shop because they are a pharmacist operating under professional supervision.
I bought 2 boxes of 32 paracetamol and a box of 64 400mg ibuprofen at the Sainsburys [b]pharmacy [/b]last week. All the Doris behind the counter asked was have I taken them before.
do people really not see the difference?
I dispute POS software flagging sales being any sort of 'safeguard'.
Where its a safeguard is theres a lot of hidden paracetmol in things like cough and cold medicine - so you could buy some cough syrup, and something for your runny nose and something for your sore head and non of those things might have paracetamol in them or... all three of them might have and you could be taking 3 times the recommended dose. The checkout girl isn't a pharmacist, and more to the point she's not going to keep a mental tally of everything in a £200 trolly of shopping.
given that you couldn't have bought the tramadol in sainsburys why not collect the whole prescription from a pharmacy and save yourself having to prove a point to someone who doesn't give a shit? 😀Sainsburys wouldn't sell two packs of paracetamol and two packs of ibroprofen together until I proved a point to them.
I disagree that there's no reason to buy 3 packs of paracetamol or ibuprofen. There are plenty of good reasons, it's just easier and safer on the whole to not expect checkout staff to make a judgement on whether an individual has a valid reason.
Go to a Pharmacy then not a supermarket as they're not qualified or licensed to sell you any more.
I would, and I'm not against the system as it stands. The only thing that you've said that I disagree with is that there's no reason why anyone might validly want to buy more than 32 paracetamol. We pretty much said the same thing about checkout staff expectations.
Is this an actual 'law'? or something else?I just go round twice if I need two packets, so it's not very effective if it is a 'law'.
Yes as stated it's an actual law.
What and wear a comedy nose and glasses?
True.The only active ingredient in them is Paracetamol the rest is crap to make it taste 'nice' and to make you feel cosy. Plus they can charge you 25x the price for Paracetamol.
I've now switched to hot Ribena for my 'cosy' drink, I'm allowed to buy as much of that as I like 😉
The only thing that you've said that I disagree with is that there's no reason why anyone might validly want to buy more than 32 paracetamol. We pretty much said the same thing about checkout staff expectations.
There isn't for routine pain relief of keeping it in the house just in case. If you need more than that then your taking a lot Paracetamol and ideally should speak to a GP or the Pharmacist for advice.
There is usually software in the tills if they scan the barcodes - it will flag if more than 2 items with greater than (2x16x500mg) paracetamol.
I just go round twice if I need two packets, so it's not very effective if it is a 'law'.
How would you know that's it's not very effective, you would at least need to know the rate of attempted suicide before the law was introduced and what it was after the law was introduced, do you know ?
Yes as stated it's an actual law.
So what does the law say?
How can it be implemented?
[quote=Drac ]The only thing that you've said that I disagree with is that there's no reason why anyone might validly want to buy more than 32 paracetamol. We pretty much said the same thing about checkout staff expectations.
There isn't for routine pain relief of keeping it in the house just in case. If you need more than that then your taking a lot Paracetamol and ideally should speak to a GP or the Pharmacist for advice.
But I wasn't buying for my exclusive use, 16 for me and 32 for my son. We have 4 adults in the house. 32 doesn't last long. If we went as a family and bought our "own" we'd still have more available than I can legally buy at once
Even then, we had to go down every two days, which when she couldn't drive for 6 weeks proved a bit of a pain with a newborn.
You went to the supermarket every two days, for six weeks, rather than going to boots and getting what you actually needed in a relevant amount, from a pharmacist ?
That's just bad planning.
richmars - Member
Is this an actual 'law'? or something else?I just go round twice if I need two packets, so it's not very effective if it is a 'law'.
Yes its an actual law.
The Medicines (Sale or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1997
But you might argue it IS a good law because apparently the overdose stats back it up as working (to some extent) but you are not so inconvenienced by it that it is really a problem. Its been the case for >20 yrs so not sure why there are people struggling with it...
RE: getting Paracetemol or Ibruprofen on prescription - you do realise you can buy lots and lots of 16p packets for less than the cost of a prescription - and you'll save the NHS a few bob in the process too...
you do realise you can buy lots and lots of 16p packets
only 2
But I wasn't buying for my exclusive use, 16 for me and 32 for my son. We have 4 adults in the house. 32 doesn't last long. If we went as a family and bought our "own" we'd still have more available than I can legally buy at once
They had your word for that, they can't go off that. Go to Pharmacy next time.
32 doesn't last you long? Bloody hell.
The only thing that you've said that I disagree with is that there's no reason why anyone might validly want to buy more than 32 paracetamol. We pretty much said the same thing about checkout staff expectations.
There isn't for routine pain relief of keeping it in the house just in case. If you need more than that then your taking a lot Paracetamol and ideally should speak to a GP or the Pharmacist for advice.
The only reason "minor convenience benefit" wouldn't be a valid reason is if having a larger quantity in the house presents a real risk. Now currently I live with others, and have visitors and kids so can't 100% guarantee control over access to anything in the house, but I used to live alone, and I would argue strongly that even a few quid or 5 minute saving would be more significant than the risk of me or anyone else overdosing even if I had a million paracetamol or anything else in the house. Again though, I do agree that as a blanket rule it's better to be safe than sorry, and statistically that pans out as fewer people dying.
You do realise that the NHS don't buy their Paracetamol and Ibuprofen from Boots at £3.99 a pop don't you?
. Again though, I do agree that as a blanket rule it's better to be safe than sorry, and statistically that pans out as fewer people dying.
Which is precisely why it's there.
what happened to to asprin?
used to be everywhere and always seemed better at taking the edge off the aftermath of a lacrosse match.
Only disprin left, which i don't like.
On a similar note how come they can sell you booze if you're with a young child but not if you're with somebody who "appears to be under 25"?
And how many baskets of shopping have been abandoned at the till in a strop over that?
I'm not sure, but I think that there is no LAW stating that max 2x16 may be supplied by a shop - that bit, at least initially, was "agreed good practice" (I'm sure there was a period where poundland or somebody similar was selling 3x16 for a quid without breaking anythingother than an agreement)
The 100 max is in law, unless you present a prescription to a pharmacy
(the law also would allow you to go straight back in but good practice might be felt to apply)
what happened to to asprin?
Still there but it's always been shite as a pain relief.
I just go round twice if I need two packets, so it's not very effective if it is a 'law'.
The purpose of the practice is to try and prevent, at a population level, too many people taking too much paracetamol [i]by accident[/i]. Its something you shouldn't take a lot of or take often unless your GP is advising you to do so. People who buy paracetamol in supermarkets are generally buying it without that medical requirement or advice. So a flagging systems that helps discourage people 'stocking up' because they ill-advisedly take regular or high dosages is effective in preventing people [i]accidentally[/i] taking too much. And at a population level its taking a little too much a little too often that causes the harm, not deliberate overdoses.
Going round twice isn't an [i]accident[/i].
Again though, I do agree that as a blanket rule it's better to be safe than sorry, and statistically that pans out as fewer people dying.
Which is precisely why it's there.
Yes. You get that I get that, right? 🙂
So if I go round twice, who's breaking the law?
Me or the shop?
Yes. You get that I get that, right?
Yup. I was pointing it out for those that require more than 32 in the house but can't bothered to walk to the next shop for another box or visit a Pharmacist.
So if I go round twice, who's breaking the law?
Me or the shop?
Ermmm! Do you really need to ask?
So if I go round twice, who's breaking the law?
Me or the shop?
I might be a different person by then - if I don't know that - how do they?
meanwhile nobody is concerned about the guy with 6 bottles of whisky.
meanwhile nobody is concerned about the guy with 6 bottles of whisky.
Maybe he was buying them for his family.
strictly speaking, neither (I think)So if I go round twice, who's breaking the law?
Me or the shop?
On a similar note how come they can sell you booze if you're with a young child but not if you're with somebody who "appears to be under 25"?
That just staff not understanding company policy, or the law.
I've not heard of any supermarket policy that states you can't buy alcohol if you are with someone that appears to be under 25.
People tend not to commit suicide by downing bottle after bottle of whisky, they take high risk over the counter meds as they're cheap, easy to get hold off and easy to take. As it's often a spontaneous thing they tend not even bother walking to next shop for another box.
+1
meanwhile nobody is concerned about the guy with 6 bottles of whisky.
He'' obviously managed to scrape together £30 - and he's having one night off a week, don't trample his dreams!
Also he probably won't be as easilly inclined towards impulse purchases as your average ibruprofen lover.
Ermmm! Do you really need to ask?
Clearly, yes.
I don't have a problem with it reducing suicide, but a 'bad law' is one that is hard to police. I think this is a bad law.
On a similar note how come they can sell you booze if you're with a young child but not if you're with somebody who "appears to be under 25"?
If they believe the person may be buying it for someone under age then they can refuse to sell the alcohol. You don't have a legal right to buy it but they can refuse to sell.
Clearly, yes.
I don't have a problem with it reducing suicide, but a 'bad law' is one that is hard to police. I think this is a bad law.
The links I gave up there show otherwise. Like I said way back spontaneous suicidal people don't wander around shop to shop buying Paracetamol.