Refused sale of calpol?

[Kmx]

Does anyone find this ridiculous or would you understand...

Yesterday I was called by my sons nursery which is right beside my work to bring him cal pol as he had a really high temperature. Earlier that day I had forgotten my purse so I had to ask someone to borrow money and ran to the nearest shop which was a convenience sainsburys store. I grabbed the cal pol and headed to the till and the woman asked for ID. I'm 23 years old and Look my age but she said I needed to look over 25. I explained that I usually have Id but I had left my purse in the house and my son was sick in nursery and needed this urgently. She said no so I searched my bag and found some ID with my name picture and date of birth. The woman still said no and that it had to be either a passport or driving licence.

At this point I was really upset and angry. I just couldn't believe that at 23 years old I can have a child but can't buy him childrens medicine when he's sick without Id. I understand for alcohol and cigarettes and even normal paracetamol for for cal pol which can be given at 2 months and over and when I gave her a form of id with my date of birth I just find ridiculous. I was panicking as I really couldn't leave work but knew that I had to give him cal pol otherwise the nursery would send him home. I then walked for 10 Minutes to a boots store and was served with no questions.

What do you think, do you think they should have served me?

 

[AngelofTroy]

Yes I think they should have served you! I've never been asked for ID for any painkillers and have been buying my own since my teens!

I was, however asked for ID in boots for baby nail scissors… they have rounded edges ffs and I was clearly very pregnant and buying other baby stuff at the same time, do people really go out and buy baby nail scissors and go out on stabbing sprees?!

 

[the why bird]

I would be annoyed, but in fairness that woman probably didn't have much choice - if it's a company policy she might get in trouble for accepting other kinds of ID.

That said, I had no idea there was an age limit on buying calpol! How weird. It's not like there's an age limit on having children, and adult painkillers would be more dangerous if you were going to misuse them.

I was once ID'd when buying party poppers. Not the same I know because they weren't important, but still pretty bizarre.

 

[Gym knickers]

Sounds a bit ridiculous tbh, she obviously is told to do it but she could have just used a bit of common sense! On my 21st birthday I was refused some matches I needed to light a BBQ. Had sent off my id for something or other and had to get my dad to come back with me to get them!

 

[emyandpotato]

It sucks hun but they have to be careful or they risk their jobs. I'm also 23 and got refused Prit-Stik the other day, because apparently I don't pass as 16

 

[KayBea]

it is rediculous! i dont understand how it works but....
she was only doing her job & if i was her ide rather piss a customer off than have a £5,000 fine through my letter box.

 

[RinnaRoo]

Is there an ingredient in it used to make drugs?

 

[Noodlebear]

For calpol?! Like you said - that can be given to babies! That's totally ridiculous, especially as you had a form of ID. She should really have used her initiative on that one.

 

[FAB mama]

Is there an ingredient in it used to make drugs?

This is why we get ID'd in the US for some drugs, especially things like cough and cold medicine. I do think it's ridiculous though. It's sad that it's necessary to ID people for those things.

 

[Bex84]

I would say its very dangerous, as there are a lot of people who have children under 25 and should they really refuse to sell you something than can stop a child being seriously ill especially as a temperature can cause seizure, I'm 29 but back when I was 24 I got ID'ed for strepsils in Sainsbury's, for which you have to be 14, this was when I was a teacher lol. I think they need to have a certain amount of sense and she should have called a superior. I would be tempted to put in a letter to them showing concern that they would not sell to you, especially since there are people who don't have driving licence and passport. What are you meant to do if your a teenage mum who needs paracetamol/ calpol quickly for your child, are you meant to find someone over 25 to go to shop for you to buy something a baby can have from 3 months

 

[kit10grl]

Unfortunately I see her side of it. There are a list of products covered by the challenge 25 policy. The store will have its own methods of discipline for breach of the policy as well as the legal consequences which can include fines and a criminal record. The policy is checked by having the police do spot checks. Who is to say that you weren't an underage police check? And the rules about passports etc are pretty strict too. They can't accept other forms of ID. In this case where a parent really needed the product you could always use the direct care policy at your local chemist. Then it's issued on prescription so its free and they can check your details with adoctor so don't need id.

 

[sophxx]

it is rediculous! i dont understand how it works but....
she was only doing her job & if i was her ide rather piss a customer off than have a £5,000 fine through my letter box.

£5,000 fine for what? It's not covered under any laws such as challenge 25 neither is lottery there is no fine

 

[FAB mama]

I would say its very dangerous, as there are a lot of people who have children under 25 and should they really refuse to sell you something than can stop a child being seriously ill especially as a temperature can cause seizure, I'm 29 but back when I was 24 I got ID'ed for strepsils in Sainsbury's, for which you have to be 14, this was when I was a teacher lol. I think they need to have a certain amount of sense and she should have called a superior. I would be tempted to put in a letter to them showing concern that they would not sell to you, especially since there are people who don't have driving licence and passport. What are you meant to do if your a teenage mum who needs paracetamol/ calpol quickly for your child, are you meant to find someone over 25 to go to shop for you to buy something a baby can have from 3 months

Febrile seizures aren't normally harmful, but I agree parents should have access to the medicine their children need. Do you really have to be 25 or just appear over 25 for them not to ID you? For instance in the US, I think you have to appear over 40 (maybe?) for them to not ID you for alcohol, but you only have to be 21.

I'm surprised the daycare didn't just have you take your child home if there was really a fever… but honestly I haven't dealt with daycares so I have no idea what is normal!

 

[sophxx]

Unfortunately I see her side of it. There are a list of products covered by the challenge 25 policy. The store will have its own methods of discipline for breach of the policy as well as the legal consequences which can include fines and a criminal record. The policy is checked by having the police do spot checks. Who is to say that you weren't an underage police check? And the rules about passports etc are pretty strict too. They can't accept other forms of ID. In this case where a parent really needed the product you could always use the direct care policy at your local chemist. Then it's issued on prescription so its free and they can check your details with adoctor so don't need id.

The only products in England on challenge 25 is beer wine and sprits On the spot checks are only performed for Tobacco products by trading standards and cigarettes company's and beer wine spirits checks are done by the police and trading standards. Challenge 21 is run for cigs and solvents.

Unfortunately a lot of company's jump on challenge 25 and apply it to everything hiding behind the back on challenge 25 it's hard being a responsible retailer but it can be done and proper age restrictions followed to keep everyone safe and happy.
Op I would complain to sainsburys I have before about this issue with lottery as I was told it was 25 I have stores with lottery it's 16 and not covered by challenge 25 like the worker said. I reported it to lottery to and the rep went in a retrained the managers and stores workers.

 

[Noodlebear]

I would say its very dangerous, as there are a lot of people who have children under 25 and should they really refuse to sell you something than can stop a child being seriously ill especially as a temperature can cause seizure, I'm 29 but back when I was 24 I got ID'ed for strepsils in Sainsbury's, for which you have to be 14, this was when I was a teacher lol. I think they need to have a certain amount of sense and she should have called a superior. I would be tempted to put in a letter to them showing concern that they would not sell to you, especially since there are people who don't have driving licence and passport. What are you meant to do if your a teenage mum who needs paracetamol/ calpol quickly for your child, are you meant to find someone over 25 to go to shop for you to buy something a baby can have from 3 months

Febrile seizures aren't normally harmful, but I agree parents should have access to the medicine their children need. Do you really have to be 25 or just appear over 25 for them not to ID you? For instance in the US, I think you have to appear over 40 (maybe?) for them to not ID you for alcohol, but you only have to be 21.

I'm surprised the daycare didn't just have you take your child home if there was really a fever… but honestly I haven't dealt with daycares so I have no idea what is normal!

The policy a lot of places here use for the sale of tobacco and alcohol means that if you look under 25/21 they ask you for ID but you only have to 18. I'm not really sure about rules surrounding other things here as I've never been ID'd for buying anything else.

 

[kit10grl]

Unfortunately I see her side of it. There are a list of products covered by the challenge 25 policy. The store will have its own methods of discipline for breach of the policy as well as the legal consequences which can include fines and a criminal record. The policy is checked by having the police do spot checks. Who is to say that you weren't an underage police check? And the rules about passports etc are pretty strict too. They can't accept other forms of ID. In this case where a parent really needed the product you could always use the direct care policy at your local chemist. Then it's issued on prescription so its free and they can check your details with adoctor so don't need id.

The only products in England on challenge 25 is beer wine and sprits On the spot checks are only performed for Tobacco products by trading standards and cigarettes company's and beer wine spirits checks are done by the police and trading standards. Challenge 21 is run for cigs and solvents.

Unfortunately a lot of company's jump on challenge 25 and apply it to everything hiding behind the back on challenge 25 it's hard being a responsible retailer but it can be done and proper age restrictions followed to keep everyone safe and happy.
Op I would complain to sainsburys I have before about this issue with lottery as I was told it was 25 I have stores with lottery it's 16 and not covered by challenge 25 like the worker said. I reported it to lottery to and the rep went in a retrained the managers and stores workers.

It must be different here. I know that at least knives are definitely included by law as is paracetamol which also has a maximum amount imposed on it. The rest is included by company policy to reduce confusion for people working in the store. They are allowed to put that in as a policy providing they still sell the products to anyone who can prove they are over the legal age. It sucks but they are only protecting themselves

 

[Blizzard]

Actually to be able to buy over the counter medicines you have to be over 16. I would write and complain actually because it's not covered by any age restriction law.

 

[AP]

Was it Sainsburys? I was under the impression you had to be over 16 - surely not look 25 too, thats crazy. I was ID'd for canesten there sometimes you think common sense is really required for some people!

 

[missk1989]

I find this sort of thing quite frustrating. In sainsburys this month i have been id for buying two lottery tickets and some alcohol free cider. I wasnt id on the alcoholic beers and wine i bought over the past couple weeks though. Im 24 and look young but i dont look 16!

 

[ktod]

To the people wondering what young parents do if they need something, You don't have to be over 25 you just have to be over 16/18 depending on the product but they ask you for ID if you look under 25. You can still buy it under 25 with ID.

I know it's annoying being ID'd but I do support it. Medicines shouldn't be sold to minors and it can be really hard to guess someone's age. I don't feel I look like teenager but I have had people think I am in my teens (when I'm actually turning 30!) but then you see teenagers who look really old as well.

I'm sure the person in the shop was just doing as they were told. I'd just put it down to bad luck and forget it.