Laws regarding sales of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen??

tr3mor

I tried to buy 2 packs of paracetamol and 2 packs of ibuprofen in Morrisons yesterday. The checkout girl refused because of "the law".

Does anyone know the laws regarding this. I've looked up on google. I'm pretty sure that supermarkets follow guidance that only 32 paracetamol are allowed at any time but I'm not sure that this applies to ibuprofen.

Could anyone clarify this?

espresso

tr3mor wrote: »

I tried to buy 2 packs of paracetamol and 2 packs of ibuprofen in Morrisons yesterday. The checkout girl refused because of "the law".

Does anyone know the laws regarding this. I've looked up on google. I'm pretty sure that supermarkets follow guidance that only 32 paracetamol are allowed at any time but I'm not sure that this applies to ibuprofen.

Could anyone clarify this?

Surely you could not use that many tablets before your next visit to the shop anyway!

Some info regarding the sale of Paracetamol and Aspirin on General Sale here.

tr3mor

In the link you've given there's no mention of Ibuprofen. Are there any laws regarding the sale of this?

espresso wrote: »

Surely you could not use that many tablets before your next visit to the shop anyway!

I couldn't use 8 tins of Tuna between two trips to the supermarket. It doesn't mean that I shouldn't stock up on them!

:money:

espresso

tr3mor wrote: »

In the link you've given there's no mention of Ibuprofen. Are there any laws regarding the sale of this?

Don't know but the law seems to specifically cover Paracetamol and Aspirin.

I couldn't use 8 tins of Tuna between two trips to the supermarket. It doesn't mean that I shouldn't stock up on them!

Difficult to top yourself using tuna though!

:rolleyes:

.................

melancholly

there has been a bit of research that has shown that reducing the number of painkillers you can get in one go has reduced people attempting suicide by taking pills.... it means people don't have huge quantities in the house to take at that moment in time and it requires multiple trips to the shops or more than one shop on one trip which stops people doing it on an impulse (impulse is the wrong word, but i hope you get my meaning - people who preplan it are going to do it anyway, people who decide to do it there and hten on the spot can't). i thought it was a really stupid idea until someone explained to me how much of a difference it has made... don't know about the difference between ibuprofen and paracetemol - could be that they just do it with all the painkillers as a blanket rule - easier to enforce for shop staff maybe?

tr3mor

If the law doesn't include Ibuprofen then I should not have been stopped from buying it.

espresso wrote: »

Difficult to top yourself using tuna though!

It's pretty easy to top yourself with various household implements. I could go into my garage, drink a couple of bottles of whisky and take a reciprocal saw to my wrists. It doesn't mean that I shouldn't be allowed to buy whisky and DIY tools.

Fern_Merkin

Melacholly has a point, PM on radio4 last night had a report on it linked to the suicides in Wales and efforts to help young people in this frame of mind.

My local Home Bargains allows 6 packets of Paracetamol to be purchased at one time. (bulk buying one time for friends in Switzerland, nowt else:D ) Ibuprofen is very different to Paracetamol and Aspirin and the potential damage resulting in over medication, but I too think that shops use a 1 size fits all policy to help staff.

Shop around, Large bottles of 100 paracetamols can still be bought at Boots and other chemist shops, in you are lucky enough to look sane and 'normal'.:eek:

Best of luck

macymoo

I tried to buy paracetamol for me and Calpol for kiddies and was not allowed as they both contained paracetamol, so I paid for one then queued at another till and paid for the other??? Madness

weegie.geek

Fern_Merkin wrote: »

Shop around, Large bottles of 100 paracetamols can still be bought at Boots and other chemist shops, in you are lucky enough to look sane and 'normal'.:eek:

I look anything but. I'm going to try this next time I'm in town.

noonesperfect

The only way to get round this is to buy 2 packets each time you shop or buy some in one store and some in another. Same applies to cold preparations containing ibuprofen, paracetamol or asprin. It's too bad if the whole family have colds and you need a load of Beechams (for example), the law expects you to trail round several shops to get enough cold remedy for everyone!!

IMO it's a ridulous law, if someone were going to top themselves it's what they would do!

Incidentally Poundland sell 3 x 16 paracetamol or ibuprofen for a £1, does that mean they're breaking the law?

JoeyEmma

The law is that your should only be allowed to by 16 paracetamol at a time or 32 if supervised by a pharmacist. In practice this never happens. I woek at times in A&E and know!