19p Paracetamol @ ASDA Southampton (16 tabs 500mg each)

laurazelle

Hi,
If it's not a real deal forgive me I am new to the UK and not familiar with pricing here.

Galpharm Paracetamol, a box of 16 tabs (500mg each) scanned for 19p. Expiry Oct 2016.

I scanned these today at ASDA Southampton. Shelf price was 59p a box.

You can only buy 2 per transaction.

Sorry if it is in the wrong place/waste of a new thread. I tried searching for an ASDA thread or scan thread on the Grabbit, but in vain.

VfM4meplse

There is a reason that only 2 packs can be bought at a time - it's called medicines law. Although really a supply of 32 should be restricted to pharmacies only.

So don't expect to save more than 80p on this Grabbit, folks!

laurazelle

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Although really a supply of 32 should be restricted to pharmacies only.

It's the pack size. ASDA etc can sell a pack with 16 tabs per pack but the pharmacies are allowed to sell packs containing up to 32 tabs. ASDA isn't doing anything wrong.

Or was it your opinion that ASDA should not even sell 2 packs of 16 tabs each? I find that so harsh. I am still getting accustomed to ID to buy a kitchen knife, no martial arts weapons in public etc.

booter

Thanks laurazelle - as you may have guessed, around 20p is the usual "value" range sort of price for paracetamol in the UK No, I don't think Asda is doing anything wrong - the law relating to the sale of paracetamol changed in 1998 to allow supermarkets etc to sell them in packs of 16. But guidelines in 2009 advised restricting sales to 2 packs only from those outlets. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/pl-p/documents/websiteresources/con065560.pdf


I think we take for granted things which may be of a higher price elsewhere in the world. I'm assuming that they're priced higher where you're originally from?


I would find it interesting to hear of your shopping "surprises" - and those of others who have come to the UK (let's see just what we do take for granted!) but maybe the mods could move the thread to the Food, Shopping and Groceries board?

VfM4meplse

laurazelle wrote: »

Or was it your opinion that ASDA should not even sell 2 packs of 16 tabs each?

No, it's an anomaly that an uneducated supermarket supervisor can nod through 32 paracetamol when it is the professional remit of pharmacists. An old argument, but caused a huge fuss at the time.

Doc_N

VfM4meplse wrote: »

There is a reason that only 2 packs can be bought at a time - it's called medicines law. Although really a supply of 32 should be restricted to pharmacies only.

So don't expect to save more than 80p on this Grabbit, folks!

The law restricts the pack size outside pharmacies to 16 - but it doesn't restrict the number of packs that can be sold in one transaction.

Most retail outlets restrict it to two packs per person, but some will allow you to buy four. Legally, however, there is no restriction.

And 19p for 16 tablets is pretty much the standard price for most supermarkets, isn't it?