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tesco's rant

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James

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Oct 1, 2011, 6:27:45 PM10/1/11
to
So I had an interesting experience at Tesco ( Fulborn ) today, I
wanted to buy some anti-histamines and some painkillers so I ended up
buying three tins of chocolates 6 packs of anti-histamines and two
packets of paracetamol and two packets of ibuprofen. I did try to buy
some more but something happened....

I was using a self service register and they always annoy. So someone
came over when I put the third pain killer though the till and they
said I wasn’t allowed to buy more than two painkillers in a single
transaction. So I completed that transaction and started another one
for the next two packets. I completed that and had started another when
I was told that I was not allowed to buy any more. I asked why and they
said it was company policy.

Basically I ended up being surrounded by the manager for the checkouts,
the deputy manger for the store and a security guard. And they wouldn’t
let me leave the store with the medicines I had bought, they kept on
saying it was against company policy. When the store manager turned up
I started recording this on my ipod, I told them I was doing this and
they told me to stop because of company policy I refused. I was really
shaking and felt very intimidated and unwell I also left my card in the
card reader I was so shaken. I have about 10 minutes of audio where
they will not let me leave the store with the items I had purchased. I
did ask them to ring the police when the said they really were not
going to let me out of the shop with the medicines I had bought.
Eventually the manager said it was the medicines act and I think he
said 1998 but I can only find an 1968 medicines act which googling
implies that it limits the drugs that shops which are not pharmacies
are allowed to sell. I did then give him the extra packets of
paracetamol and ibuprofen but refused a refund as I just wanted to
leave the shop. This has really shaken myself and my 10 year old son
who was with me up.

Even if I wasn’t allowed to buy the medicines are they allowed to stop
me from leaving the building ? I did pop into the police station later
in the day to ask if they were allowed to detain me and they said it
was a civil mater. I also asked the police if Tesco had rung them and
they refused to answer.

tim....

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Oct 1, 2011, 6:41:31 PM10/1/11
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<James> wrote in message
news:4e8793e1$0$2429$c3e8da3$e5d1...@news.astraweb.com...
> So I had an interesting experience at Tesco ( Fulborn ) today, I wanted
> to buy some anti-histamines and some painkillers so I ended up buying
> three tins of chocolates 6 packs of anti-histamines and two packets of
> paracetamol and two packets of ibuprofen. I did try to buy some more but
> something happened....
>
> I was using a self service register and they always annoy. So someone came
> over when I put the third pain killer though the till and they said I wasn't
> allowed to buy more than two painkillers in a single transaction. So I
> completed that transaction and started another one for the next two
> packets. I completed that and had started another when I was told that I
> was not allowed to buy any more. I asked why and they said it was company
> policy.

Actually it's what the law requires them to do

Yes it's silly, but what can they do?

tim


Message has been deleted

Duncan Wood

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Oct 2, 2011, 3:37:51 AM10/2/11
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On Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:32:10 +0100, Phil W Lee <ph...@lee-family.me.uk>
wrote:

> "tim...." <tims_n...@yahoo.co.uk> considered Sat, 1 Oct 2011
> They could have NOT SOLD THEM, instead of selling them and then taking
> them back, unlawfully detaining the customer in the process.
>

Isn't that exactly what's just been described? You're told you casn't buy
more than two packets & then attempt to take 4.

> I'm surprised that the police don't regard unlawful detention as any
> of their business.

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 3:39:23 AM10/2/11
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In message <4e8793e1$0$2429$c3e8da3$e5d1...@news.astraweb.com>, at
23:27:45 on Sat, 1 Oct 2011, James@?.?.invalid remarked:
>I did pop into the police station later in the day to ask if they were
>allowed to detain me and they said it was a civil mater.

There was a long discussion about unlawful arrest (in the context of
supermarkets, surprise suprise) in uk.legal.moderated a few months ago.

As long as they physically stopped you (touched you) they might have
committed an offence. There's also the issue of whether buying too many
medicines is an [arrestable] offence anyway.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 3:56:42 AM10/2/11
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In message <op.v2prh...@duncan-tosh.cable.virginmedia.net>, at
08:37:51 on Sun, 2 Oct 2011, Duncan Wood <nnt...@dmx512.co.uk>
remarked:
>Isn't that exactly what's just been described? You're told you casn't
>buy more than two packets & then attempt to take 4.

The OP said (about the first 4 packets):

"they wouldn’t let me leave the store with the medicines I had bought"

He goes on to say:

"I did then give him the extra packets of paracetamol and ibuprofen but
refused a refund"

Or was he trying to buy (say) six *each* of paracetamol and ibuprofen,
paid for four of each (in two transactions of two+two), and was allowed
to leave with two of each also refusing a refund for the second two of
each.
--
Roland Perry

Tim Ward

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Oct 2, 2011, 4:33:42 AM10/2/11
to
"Phil W Lee" <ph...@lee-family.me.uk> wrote in message
news:bm4g875kp4i30v5kb...@4ax.com...
>
> They could have NOT SOLD THEM, instead of selling them and then taking
> them back, unlawfully detaining the customer in the process.

They did try to "not sell them" but you chose to attempt to game the system.

--
Tim Ward - posting as an individual unless otherwise clear
Brett Ward Limited - www.brettward.co.uk
Cambridge Accommodation Notice Board - www.brettward.co.uk/canb


Message has been deleted

Paul Gotch

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Oct 2, 2011, 5:25:32 AM10/2/11
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David Hough <noone$$@llondel.org> wrote:
> quantities. It's an attempt to stop people overdosing.

More specifically with paracetamol quite small overdoses leads to liver
damage and possibly failure. All the rules about the amount of
paracetamol or medicines containing paracetamol you are allowed to buy
stem from this.

-p
--
Paul Gotch
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Brian Watson

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Oct 2, 2011, 5:47:02 AM10/2/11
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"Tim Ward" <t...@brettward.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9eqlv7...@mid.individual.net...
> "Phil W Lee" <ph...@lee-family.me.uk> wrote in message
> news:bm4g875kp4i30v5kb...@4ax.com...
>>
>> They could have NOT SOLD THEM, instead of selling them and then taking
>> them back, unlawfully detaining the customer in the process.
>
> They did try to "not sell them" but you chose to attempt to game the
> system.

Yes, I agree.

I am NO fan of Tesco, but it does seem they were only trying to stop the OP
leaving the store for as long as he was trying to leave WITH the medicines.

They have explained the situation to him and the OP is arguing the toss
about being allowed to buy more and leave the store with them.

Of course, if (a) the self-service procedure had not required a staff
intervention - I wonder if they are set to flag an over-purchase?, or (b)
the person had gone through a staffed aisle - where the staff or the till
MIGHT also have refused the purchase, "James" might have got away with it.

Yeah, yeah, Nanny State, but as long as there is a law there, EVEN Tesco are
expected to act in accordance with it.

By way of a PS, that's a HECK of a lot of anti-histamines and painkillers to
want to buy: is the OP expecting to be "mown" down, I wonder?

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop



Message has been deleted

James

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:14:24 AM10/2/11
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So my email address is jam...@catbus.co.uk, While I understand that
paracetamol poisoning is a really unpleasant way to die etc. What I am
really still shaken about is the staff not letting me leave with goods
that I had paid for. I can't find any law saying that you can not buy
more than two painkillers in one transaction the nearest I can find is
legislation saying that supermarkets are not allowed to sell
paracetamol in boxes of more than 16 which was brought in in 1998.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/172674.stm

I am still not feeling very happy today I do know that it will be quiet
a while before I buy anything else from tesco.

And yes once they had told me that I shouldn't buy more than two boxes
of drugs maybe the prudent thing to do would be to have listened to
them however.

1) I can't find any legal limit on ibuprofen
2) They kept on saying it was company policy and not a law.
3) When they said what law it was I handed the tablets over, I now
think they were lying to me.
4) intimidating with three members of staff for more than 10 minutes is
not right.

james



Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:14:50 AM10/2/11
to
In message <B7-dnUvcqfOFrhXT...@bt.com>, at 10:47:02 on
Sun, 2 Oct 2011, Brian Watson <Br...@imagebus.co.uk> remarked:

>Of course, if (a) the self-service procedure had not required a staff
>intervention - I wonder if they are set to flag an over-purchase?

He says they stopped him buying three at a session. Maybe starting a
second session alerted the humans patrolling the area to some generic
problem.

There's still the issue of what the legal remedies are, by the store.
While making multiple purchases is something they are supposed to
disallow, having made the multiple purchase does the law say they can
detain the shopper?

>, or (b) the person had gone through a staffed aisle - where the staff
>or the till MIGHT also have refused the purchase, "James" might have
>got away with it.

He'd have got away with it by returning to the car and making a second
purchase.
--
Roland Perry

Tim Ward

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:22:13 AM10/2/11
to
"August West" <aug...@kororaa.com> wrote in message
news:87lit3e...@news2.kororaa.com...
>
> Although there is a simple method of minimizing paracetamol liver
> damage, by using a combination pill, containing methionine as well as
> paracetemol. Why this is not mandated, rather than restricting sales, I
> don't really understand.

Last time this was in the news I think the answer was that the combination
pill had side effects and that it wasn't fair to inflict these on the vast
majority of paracetamol users who aren't trying to commit suicide.
Message has been deleted

Tim Ward

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:53:28 AM10/2/11
to
"August West" <aug...@kororaa.com> wrote in message
news:87ehyve...@news2.kororaa.com...
>
> It was effected by Statutory Instrument 1997 No.2045: The Medicines
> (Sales or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment (No 2)
> Regulations 1997, particularly s.2(b)(ii) and (iii), which commenced on
> 16th September 1998.

Once Upon A Time I persuaded a chemist (a proper chemist, not a supermarket)
to sell me a larger than domestically normal quantity of painkillers on the
grounds that I was restocking the office first aid kit. I imagine that's
also banned now (last I heard painkillers had to be kept unofficially in the
receptionist's desk drawer where anyone could grab whatever they wanted, and
were not allowed in the first aid box itself where usage could be controlled
and logged).

James

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:13:56 AM10/2/11
to
On 2011-10-02 11:37:47 +0100, August West <aug...@kororaa.com> said:

>
> The entity calling itself James wrote:
>
>> I can't find any law saying that you can not buy more than two
>> painkillers in one transaction the nearest I can find is legislation
>> saying that supermarkets are not allowed to sell paracetamol in boxes
>> of more than 16 which was brought in in 1998.
>
> It was effected by Statutory Instrument 1997 No.2045: The Medicines
> (Sales or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment (No 2)
> Regulations 1997, particularly s.2(b)(ii) and (iii), which commenced on
> 16th September 1998.

Thats really useful thank you. I can't see where it says that it is
ileagal to buy or sell more than two packets of tablets at once. I can
find a best practice

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/pl-p/documents/websiteresources/con065560.pdf

Why

can't people provide laws in a form that is current and not have to try
and apply patches.

The original act

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1980/1923/regulation/8/made
Patch 1
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2045/made
patch 2
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/764/made


So we have
"(2) Where a medicinal product for human use containing aloxiprin,
aspirin, paracetamol or salicylamide is sold by retail in the course of
a business elsewhere than at a registered pharmacy or is so offered or
exposed for sale by retail or so supplied in circumstances
corresponding to retail sale, the product shall be presented for sale
in a separate and individual container or package containing—(a)in the
case of effervescent tablets, not more than 50 tablets;(b)in the case
of tablets that are not effervescent, not more than 16 tablets;
and(c)in the case of powder or granules, not more than 10 sachets."



"Amendment of regulation 8 of the principal Regulations4. In
regulation 8 of the principal Regulations (pack size on retail sale or
supply of certain medicinal products on a general sale list), in
paragraph (2A)(8), for “20 tablets” substitute “50 tablets”."

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2045/made
(i)for “aloxiprin, aspirin, paracetamol or salicylamide” there is
substituted “aloxiprin, aspirin or paracetamol”,(ii)for subparagraph
(b) there is substituted—“(b)in the case of tablets that are not
effervescent—(i)where they do not contain aspirin or paracetamol, not
more than 25 tablets,(ii)where they contain aspirin, paracetamol or
both of those substances, not more than 16 tablets;”,


http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/764/made
"Amendment of regulation 8 of the principal Regulations4. In
regulation 8 of the principal Regulations (pack size on retail sale or
supply of certain medicinal products on a general sale list), in
paragraph (2A)(8), for “20 tablets” substitute “50 tablets”."


Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:18:03 AM10/2/11
to
In message <4e88397f$0$10351$c3e8da3$93ad...@news.astraweb.com>, at
11:14:24 on Sun, 2 Oct 2011, James@?.?.invalid remarked:
>I can't find any law saying that you can not buy more than two
>painkillers in one transaction the nearest I can find is legislation
>saying that supermarkets are not allowed to sell paracetamol in boxes
>of more than 16 which was brought in in 1998.
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/172674.stm

That says "analgesics such as paracetamol and aspirin".

Not too difficult to find the law on packet size:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2045/regulation/2/made

[re aloxiprin, aspirin, paracetamol or salicylamide, see SI 1980/1923]

2(b)(i) "where they do not contain aspirin or paracetamol, not more
than 25 tablets,

(ii) "where they contain aspirin, paracetamol or both of those
substances, not more than 16 tablets"

(and later that you can't sell big bottles of liquid paracetamol, and a
new rule about packets with more than 6 imodium).

As for the multiple packets, I suspect that's part of some other duty of
care when selling medicines which is triggered by the overtness of
having to buy 16-pills-at-a-time.

Putting Ibuprophen into the same size packet and also restricting its
sale would seem to be a "marketing decision".

ps The 1980 rule (before amended in 1997) said "packets of 25" (for all
the listed items). So it seems to be an urban myth that people were
buying packets of 100 over the retail counter (rather than from a
pharmacy) prior to 1998.
--
Roland Perry

magwitch

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:24:52 AM10/2/11
to
Tim Ward wrote:
> "August West" <aug...@kororaa.com> wrote in message
> news:87lit3e...@news2.kororaa.com...
>> Although there is a simple method of minimizing paracetamol liver
>> damage, by using a combination pill, containing methionine as well as
>> paracetemol. Why this is not mandated, rather than restricting sales, I
>> don't really understand.
>
> Last time this was in the news I think the answer was that the combination
> pill had side effects and that it wasn't fair to inflict these on the vast
> majority of paracetamol users who aren't trying to commit suicide.
>

They ought to warn against drinking coffee or tea with paracetamol and
also to ban medicines which contain caffeine and paracetamol (most cold
'cures') - as the two combined magnify liver damage.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2540652.ece

Michael Kilpatrick

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:31:04 AM10/2/11
to
On 02/10/2011 11:37, August West wrote:
>
> The entity calling itself James wrote:
>
>> I can't find any law saying that you can not buy more than two
>> painkillers in one transaction the nearest I can find is legislation
>> saying that supermarkets are not allowed to sell paracetamol in boxes
>> of more than 16 which was brought in in 1998.
>
> It was effected by Statutory Instrument 1997 No.2045: The Medicines
> (Sales or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment (No 2)
> Regulations 1997, particularly s.2(b)(ii) and (iii), which commenced on
> 16th September 1998.
>

It's interesting to see that someone seem to have the time, energy and
wherewithall to find references to details of the legislation, wherease
others can't.

To my mind it just goes to show what an overlegislated and illiberal
society we have, if there's so much dross on the statute books that the
ordinary Fred Bloggs can't find it easily.

Michael

Francis Davey

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:35:13 AM10/2/11
to
On Oct 1, 11:41 pm, "tim...." <tims_new_h...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Actually it's what the law requires them to do
>

As far as I can tell, the law prohibits them from selling drugs in
certain quantities. They already did that.

I don't see anything that authorises them to detain a customer - or
the customer's property. I'd also be vary wary of doing that in case I
was sued for wrongful imprisonment, wrongful interference with goods
or assault (presuming no-one touched anyone else of course).

Maybe you could argue (and I haven't read into the law) that title
didn't pass, but still...

I'd be cross.

Francis

tony sayer

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:38:44 AM10/2/11
to
In article <4e8793e1$0$2429$c3e8da3$e5d1...@news.astraweb.com>, James
<?@?.?> scribeth thus
>So I had an interesting experience at Tesco ( Fulborn ) today, I
>wanted to buy some anti-histamines and some painkillers so I ended up
>buying three tins of chocolates 6 packs of anti-histamines and two
>packets of paracetamol and two packets of ibuprofen. I did try to buy
>some more but something happened....
>
>I was using a self service register and they always annoy. So someone
>came over when I put the third pain killer though the till and they
>said I wasn’t allowed to buy more than two painkillers in a single
>transaction. So I completed that transaction and started another one
>for the next two packets. I completed that and had started another when
>I was told that I was not allowed to buy any more. I asked why and they
>said it was company policy.
>

They are rather tetchy about this there. There is some law on it
allowing how many packs you as a pharmacist can sell. My local pharmacy
is rather hot on this despite going there for the last 16 odd years they
still will only sell you a limited amount of Paracetamol and will give
you a lecture on Ibuprofen as both of these drugs can be harmful.
Ibuprofen has a gastrointestinal risk as well as a cardiovascular one
and now can even cause hearing loss. OK one pack isn't going to do that
but long term usage can...

But Paracetamol is the drug of choice for those with suicidal intent a
lot of the time. Even if it doesn't kill you it can cause very bad Liver
damage and worse.

They might there be more on the ball about this because right behind
them there is Fulbourn hospital and it's often been known on several
occasions that patients from there have ventured out to collect
supplies;(...

As to what's written below I can't really comment on but hopefully the
reasons above might lead to some understanding on why this happened even
if they didn't to a very good public relations job in this instance..




>Basically I ended up being surrounded by the manager for the checkouts,
>the deputy manger for the store and a security guard. And they wouldn’t
>let me leave the store with the medicines I had bought, they kept on
>saying it was against company policy. When the store manager turned up
>I started recording this on my ipod, I told them I was doing this and
>they told me to stop because of company policy I refused. I was really
>shaking and felt very intimidated and unwell I also left my card in the
>card reader I was so shaken. I have about 10 minutes of audio where
>they will not let me leave the store with the items I had purchased. I
>did ask them to ring the police when the said they really were not
>going to let me out of the shop with the medicines I had bought.
>Eventually the manager said it was the medicines act and I think he
>said 1998 but I can only find an 1968 medicines act which googling
>implies that it limits the drugs that shops which are not pharmacies
>are allowed to sell. I did then give him the extra packets of
>paracetamol and ibuprofen but refused a refund as I just wanted to
>leave the shop. This has really shaken myself and my 10 year old son
>who was with me up.
>
>Even if I wasn’t allowed to buy the medicines are they allowed to stop
>me from leaving the building ? I did pop into the police station later
>in the day to ask if they were allowed to detain me and they said it
>was a civil mater. I also asked the police if Tesco had rung them and
>they refused to answer.
>

--
Tony Sayer




John Aldridge

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:45:23 AM10/2/11
to
In article <4e8793e1$0$2429$c3e8da3$e5d1...@news.astraweb.com>, James
says...
>
> So I had an interesting experience at Tesco ( Fulborn ) today, I
> wanted to buy some anti-histamines and some painkillers so I ended up
> buying three tins of chocolates 6 packs of anti-histamines and two
> packets of paracetamol and two packets of ibuprofen. I did try to buy
> some more but something happened....

From a practical point of view, you may be able to get larger packets by
asking at the Tesco pharmacy, rather than just getting them off the
shelf. That was my experience when buying anti-histamines (they only had
branded ones on the shelf, and I was after cheaper generic ones). It
worked out even cheaper, too.

--
Cheers,
John
Message has been deleted

tony sayer

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:41:29 AM10/2/11
to
In article <B7-dnUvcqfOFrhXT...@bt.com>, Brian Watson
<Br...@imagebus.co.uk> scribeth thus
>
>"Tim Ward" <t...@brettward.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:9eqlv7...@mid.individual.net...
>> "Phil W Lee" <ph...@lee-family.me.uk> wrote in message
>> news:bm4g875kp4i30v5kb...@4ax.com...
>>>
>>> They could have NOT SOLD THEM, instead of selling them and then taking
>>> them back, unlawfully detaining the customer in the process.
>>
>> They did try to "not sell them" but you chose to attempt to game the
>> system.
>
>Yes, I agree.
>
>I am NO fan of Tesco, but it does seem they were only trying to stop the OP
>leaving the store for as long as he was trying to leave WITH the medicines.
>
>They have explained the situation to him and the OP is arguing the toss
>about being allowed to buy more and leave the store with them.
>
>Of course, if (a) the self-service procedure had not required a staff
>intervention - I wonder if they are set to flag an over-purchase?,

Yes I believe this is the case. They I reckon, could make it a bit more
public there with some warning notices but I don't run Tesco;!...


> or (b)
>the person had gone through a staffed aisle - where the staff or the till
>MIGHT also have refused the purchase, "James" might have got away with it.
>
>Yeah, yeah, Nanny State, but as long as there is a law there, EVEN Tesco are
>expected to act in accordance with it.

Yes after all they break the law then someone might sue them etc etc...
>
>By way of a PS, that's a HECK of a lot of anti-histamines and painkillers to
>want to buy: is the OP expecting to be "mown" down, I wonder?
>

--
Tony Sayer



tony sayer

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:45:12 AM10/2/11
to
In article <4e88397f$0$10351$c3e8da3$93ad...@news.astraweb.com>, James
<?@?.?> scribeth thus
>On 2011-10-02 08:39:23 +0100, Roland Perry <rol...@perry.co.uk> said:
>
>> In message <4e8793e1$0$2429$c3e8da3$e5d1...@news.astraweb.com>, at
>> 23:27:45 on Sat, 1 Oct 2011, James@?.?.invalid remarked:
>>> I did pop into the police station later in the day to ask if they were
>>> allowed to detain me and they said it was a civil mater.
>>
>> There was a long discussion about unlawful arrest (in the context of
>> supermarkets, surprise suprise) in uk.legal.moderated a few months ago.
>>
>> As long as they physically stopped you (touched you) they might have
>> committed an offence. There's also the issue of whether buying too many
>> medicines is an [arrestable] offence anyway.
>
>So my email address is jam...@catbus.co.uk, While I understand that
>paracetamol poisoning is a really unpleasant way to die etc. What I am
>really still shaken about is the staff not letting me leave with goods
>that I had paid for. I can't find any law saying that you can not buy
>more than two painkillers in one transaction the nearest I can find is
>legislation saying that supermarkets are not allowed to sell
>paracetamol in boxes of more than 16 which was brought in in 1998.
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/172674.stm
>
>I am still not feeling very happy today I do know that it will be quiet
>a while before I buy anything else from tesco.


Why don't you in the cold light of day go there and ask to see the
manager or one of them. I suspect there are more than the one.

If they don't then make a fuss I would.

If no one will see you there and then ask them to make an appointment
for you or failing that his name and address and make a written
complaint.....

--
Tony Sayer



tony sayer

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:49:26 AM10/2/11
to
In article <0xjk+tyr...@perry.co.uk>, Roland Perry
<rol...@perry.co.uk> scribeth thus
Someone I once knew who was a patient at Fulbourn Hospital once went
into a shop in Cherry hinton high St and bought 400 Paracetamol and took
them back to her ward and kept them there.

This was back in early 1990....
--
Tony Sayer




tony sayer

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Oct 2, 2011, 7:52:02 AM10/2/11
to
In article <9eqsal...@mid.individual.net>, Tim Ward
<t...@brettward.co.uk> scribeth thus
>"August West" <aug...@kororaa.com> wrote in message
>news:87lit3e...@news2.kororaa.com...
>>
>> Although there is a simple method of minimizing paracetamol liver
>> damage, by using a combination pill, containing methionine as well as
>> paracetemol. Why this is not mandated, rather than restricting sales, I
>> don't really understand.
>
>Last time this was in the news I think the answer was that the combination
>pill had side effects and that it wasn't fair to inflict these on the vast
>majority of paracetamol users who aren't trying to commit suicide.
>

Indeed and it does seem that this has had quite some effect towards that
aim.

Most all people doing that are in a temporary altered state of mind and
managed through that time all is well .. but if not the damage has been
done .. game over;(...
--
Tony Sayer


Tim Ward

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Oct 2, 2011, 8:06:38 AM10/2/11
to
"Michael Kilpatrick" <ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> wrote in message
news:A96dnTT5Muzn1hXT...@brightview.co.uk...
>
> To my mind it just goes to show what an overlegislated and illiberal
> society we have, if there's so much dross on the statute books that the
> ordinary Fred Bloggs can't find it easily.

... and if he can find it so what? He won't know what the words mean, and
still has to find out how to look up the case law.

Quicker and easier and cheaper just to pay a lawyer sometimes.
Message has been deleted

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 9:08:03 AM10/2/11
to
In message
<0a6dd192-02fa-491e...@p11g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>, at
04:35:13 on Sun, 2 Oct 2011, Francis Davey <fjm...@gmail.com> remarked:
>Maybe you could argue (and I haven't read into the law) that title
>didn't pass

Would title have not passed when the checkout machine accepted his
money, and surely by the time it printed the receipt, and said "please
remove your items from the bagging area" a few moments later?

--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 9:08:45 AM10/2/11
to
In message <87ehyve...@news2.kororaa.com>, at 11:37:47 on Sun, 2 Oct
2011, August West <aug...@kororaa.com> remarked:
>> I can't find any law saying that you can not buy more than two
>> painkillers in one transaction the nearest I can find is legislation
>> saying that supermarkets are not allowed to sell paracetamol in boxes
>> of more than 16 which was brought in in 1998.
>
>It was effected by Statutory Instrument 1997 No.2045: The Medicines
>(Sales or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment (No 2)
>Regulations 1997, particularly s.2(b)(ii) and (iii), which commenced on
>16th September 1998.

That has the 16-per-packet, but not the two-per-visit.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 9:14:14 AM10/2/11
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In message <A96dnTT5Muzn1hXT...@brightview.co.uk>, at
12:31:04 on Sun, 2 Oct 2011, Michael Kilpatrick
<ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> remarked:
>It's interesting to see that someone seem to have the time, energy and
>wherewithall to find references to details of the legislation, wherease
>others can't.

It's not that difficult, I started with a Google search of "1998
medicines SI" which threw up (third hit) SI 1998/574, which I put into:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi in the "Year" and "Number" fields.

It turned out to be the wrong one, so I tried Title 'Medicines' and
1998.

Couldn't find anything obvious in the short list there, but it occurred
to me there's usually a delay between laying an SI and it coming into
force, so tried 'Medicines' and 1997. Bingo, 6th in the list.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 9:16:40 AM10/2/11
to
In message <mYd6YYKG$EiO...@bancom.co.uk>, at 12:49:26 on Sun, 2 Oct
2011, tony sayer <to...@bancom.co.uk> remarked:
>>
>>ps The 1980 rule (before amended in 1997) said "packets of 25" (for all
>>the listed items). So it seems to be an urban myth that people were
>>buying packets of 100 over the retail counter (rather than from a
>>pharmacy) prior to 1998.
>
>Someone I once knew who was a patient at Fulbourn Hospital once went
>into a shop in Cherry hinton high St and bought 400 Paracetamol and took
>them back to her ward and kept them there.

So it either had a Pharmacy counter, or the shop broke the law.
--
Roland Perry
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted

Roland Perry

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Oct 2, 2011, 12:24:33 PM10/2/11
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In message <bv1h87lhfpbjjne1v...@4ax.com>, at 17:05:50 on
Sun, 2 Oct 2011, Phil W Lee <ph...@lee-family.me.uk> remarked:
>Once they've accepted the money, and the customer has the goods, the
>store has already broken the law by supplying them in excess of the
>restriction,

No-one has found a cite for why there's a *legal* limit to two packages.
Even Tesco apparently admitted it was 'policy' rather than 'law' -
although I suspect there's some different legislation or code of
practice with an implication of a duty of care but which isn't expressed
as precisely as "only 32 tabs at a time".

>and it seems barking mad to add the offence of unlawful detention to
>the offence of oversupplying of the drugs in order to try to undo what
>they had already done.

If they had broken the law, I agree.
--
Roland Perry

James

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Oct 2, 2011, 1:35:22 PM10/2/11
to
On 2011-10-02 17:24:33 +0100, Roland Perry <rol...@perry.co.uk> said:

> In message <bv1h87lhfpbjjne1v...@4ax.com>, at 17:05:50 on
> Sun, 2 Oct 2011, Phil W Lee <ph...@lee-family.me.uk> remarked:
>> Once they've accepted the money, and the customer has the goods, the
>> store has already broken the law by supplying them in excess of the
>> restriction,
>
> No-one has found a cite for why there's a *legal* limit to two
> packages. Even Tesco apparently admitted it was 'policy' rather than
> 'law' - although I suspect there's some different legislation or code
> of practice with an implication of a duty of care but which isn't
> expressed as precisely as "only 32 tabs at a time".

The nearest I can find is a mhra best practice pdf which says its best
practice but not against the law to sell more than two packets of pain
killers.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/pl-p/documents/websiteresources/con065560.pd

>> and it seems barking mad to add the offence of unlawful detention to
>> the offence of oversupplying of the drugs in order to try to undo what
>> they had already done.
>
> If they had broken the law, I agree.

So as I say I think they were wrong to intimidate me and stop me
leaving the store with the goods I had purchased.

Frederick Williams

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Oct 2, 2011, 1:51:33 PM10/2/11
to
James wrote:
>
> So I had an interesting experience at Tesco ( Fulborn ) today, I
> [...]

Here: news:Xns9F6777AAF6F3Ewo...@88.198.244.100 you may
read about another example of Tesco bullying its customers.

--
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by
this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

tony sayer

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Oct 2, 2011, 2:27:49 PM10/2/11
to
In article <yPHFxwB4...@perry.co.uk>, Roland Perry
<rol...@perry.co.uk> scribeth thus
It was a small supermarket in those days, they seemed oblivious that a
Physiatric hospital was just down the road!.....
--
Tony Sayer




CWatters

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:08:31 PM10/2/11
to
Look at it from their point of view..

They have someone trying to buy a lot of meds that could be used to OD.
The person tried to circumvent the system after being told they wern't
allowed to buy that quantity.
When stopped the person was shaking and visibly upset.
The person had a child with them.

I bet as a company Tesco do this several times a year. I wonder how many
lives they save?


Francis Davey

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:03:04 PM10/2/11
to
On Oct 2, 2:08 pm, Roland Perry <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote:

> Would title have not passed when the checkout machine accepted his
> money, and surely by the time it printed the receipt, and said "please
> remove your items from the bagging area" a few moments later?
>

Not if the contract were void ab initio, no. As I said, I don't do
medicine sales law, so I have no idea what effect it has (assuming it
comes into play). Just trying to outline potential areas of ignorance.

Francis

Duncan Wood

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:44:18 PM10/2/11
to
Yup, it's hardly a massive restriction of ones's freedom & if you need
that much paracetamol talking to your doctors probably a good idea anyway.

Duncan Wood

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:46:01 PM10/2/11
to
On Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:07:32 +0100, Phil W Lee <ph...@lee-family.me.uk>
wrote:

> August West <aug...@kororaa.com> considered Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:58:24
> +0100 the perfect time to write:
>
>>
>> The entity calling itself Paul Gotch wrote:
>>>
>>> David Hough <noone$$@llondel.org> wrote:
>>>> quantities. It's an attempt to stop people overdosing.
>>>
>>> More specifically with paracetamol quite small overdoses leads to liver
>>> damage and possibly failure. All the rules about the amount of
>>> paracetamol or medicines containing paracetamol you are allowed to buy
>>> stem from this.
>>
>> Although there is a simple method of minimizing paracetamol liver
>> damage, by using a combination pill, containing methionine as well as
>> paracetemol. Why this is not mandated, rather than restricting sales, I
>> don't really understand.
>
> Maybe because the regulators don't understand either.

They had quite a lot of debate about it. Compulsorily administering it to
everyone seems a rather greater imposition than limiting how many pills
you can buy in one go.

Duncan Wood

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Oct 2, 2011, 6:53:28 PM10/2/11
to
On Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:18:56 +0100, August West <aug...@kororaa.com> wrote:

>
> The entity calling itself Tim Ward wrote:
>>
>> "Michael Kilpatrick" <ne...@mkilpatrick.cospam.uk> wrote in message
>> news:A96dnTT5Muzn1hXT...@brightview.co.uk...
>>>
>>> To my mind it just goes to show what an overlegislated and illiberal
>>> society we have, if there's so much dross on the statute books that the
>>> ordinary Fred Bloggs can't find it easily.
>>
>> ... and if he can find it so what? He won't know what the words mean,
>> and
>> still has to find out how to look up the case law.
>
> If it's a recent statute, they are drafted in a far clearer, and less
> obscure "legalistic" way; and such case law as their is relating to it
> will, broadly, only concern hard or corner cases. And much recent case
> law is accessible to Mr Bloggs via the bailii.org project.
>

Although that lends itself to idiocys such as grossly exorbitant interest
rates being outlawed as opposed to gross or exorbitant.

Alex Selby

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Oct 2, 2011, 11:33:33 PM10/2/11
to
I'm guessing this policy doesn't save many lives, because 32 tablets
will do for you anyway. (Someone with medical knowledge please correct
me if I'm wrong.) So I'm not sure what the point of the restriction is.

(Not that I'm blaming Tesco for this: they appear to be trying to
implement guidelines/laws/regulations which are largely not of their
making.)

By the way, paracetamol is quite dangerous even if you don't intend
self-harm. The overdose margin isn't that high (lower if you've taken
alcohol) and it varies from person to person. On top of that, probably
many people don't carefully scrutinise over the counter drugs for
paracetamol content, so they could accidentally stack two
paracetamol-containing drugs.

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:58:50 AM10/3/11
to
In article <j6baee$6p4$1...@dont-email.me>, a.p....@REMOVE.pobox.com (Alex
On the other hand, if you have stomach problems, it may be the only common
analgesic available.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Brian Watson

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Oct 3, 2011, 6:49:35 AM10/3/11
to

<James> wrote in message
news:4e88397f$0$10351$c3e8da3$93ad...@news.astraweb.com...

> I am still not feeling very happy today I do know that it will be quiet a
> while before I buy anything else from tesco.

There; you live and learn.

:-)
>
> And yes once they had told me that I shouldn't buy more than two boxes of
> drugs maybe the prudent thing to do would be to have listened to them
> however.

Probably.

> 1) I can't find any legal limit on ibuprofen
> 2) They kept on saying it was company policy and not a law.
> 3) When they said what law it was I handed the tablets over, I now think
> they were lying to me.
> 4) intimidating with three members of staff for more than 10 minutes is
> not right.

You had a kid with you - they can be dangerous.

:-)

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop


tony sayer

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Oct 3, 2011, 8:23:35 AM10/3/11
to
In article <j6baee$6p4$1...@dont-email.me>, Alex Selby
<a.p....@REMOVE.pobox.com> scribeth thus
>On 02/10/11 23:08, CWatters wrote:
>> Look at it from their point of view..
>>
>> They have someone trying to buy a lot of meds that could be used to OD.
>> The person tried to circumvent the system after being told they wern't
>> allowed to buy that quantity.
>> When stopped the person was shaking and visibly upset.
>> The person had a child with them.
>>
>> I bet as a company Tesco do this several times a year. I wonder how many
>> lives they save?
>
>I'm guessing this policy doesn't save many lives, because 32 tablets
>will do for you anyway. (Someone with medical knowledge please correct
>me if I'm wrong.) So I'm not sure what the point of the restriction is.

Well according to my local pharmacist it has had an effect, and I heard
that also from someone I know who is in the ambulance trade.. I'm sure
its in an official doc somewhere...

>
>(Not that I'm blaming Tesco for this: they appear to be trying to
>implement guidelines/laws/regulations which are largely not of their
>making.)
>
>By the way, paracetamol is quite dangerous even if you don't intend
>self-harm. The overdose margin isn't that high (lower if you've taken
>alcohol) and it varies from person to person.

Very dependent on body mass IIRC...


>On top of that, probably
>many people don't carefully scrutinise over the counter drugs for
>paracetamol content, so they could accidentally stack two
>paracetamol-containing drugs.


--
Tony Sayer



Roland Perry

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Oct 3, 2011, 9:33:41 AM10/3/11
to
In message <BUtzbsBH...@bancom.co.uk>, at 13:23:35 on Mon, 3 Oct
2011, tony sayer <to...@bancom.co.uk> remarked:
>>I'm guessing this policy doesn't save many lives, because 32 tablets
>>will do for you anyway. (Someone with medical knowledge please correct
>>me if I'm wrong.) So I'm not sure what the point of the restriction is.
>
>Well according to my local pharmacist it has had an effect, and I heard
>that also from someone I know who is in the ambulance trade.. I'm sure
>its in an official doc somewhere...

Having done a bit of reading on this, it seems the rate of related
deaths went down substantially for a couple of years, but rose again and
are now at record levels.
--
Roland Perry

The Natural Philosopher

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Oct 3, 2011, 9:49:23 AM10/3/11
to
15 years of Labour...is depressing..now the bill is in..

Alex Selby

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Oct 3, 2011, 10:58:03 AM10/3/11
to

Sure, paracetamol is undoubtedly very useful in many situations and I
wouldn't advocate restricting it. But sometimes I wonder if a bit more
education might be useful.

tony sayer

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Oct 3, 2011, 12:39:55 PM10/3/11
to
In article <RA09CkI1...@perry.co.uk>, Roland Perry
<rol...@perry.co.uk> scribeth thus
Reflection on the society we live in perhaps...

And if anyone is serious about doing away with themselves they'll find a
way .. one way or the other..

Is it Friday yet or somewhere near there;?..
--
Tony Sayer



Paul Bird

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Oct 3, 2011, 12:43:26 PM10/3/11
to
Nitrogen.

tony sayer

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Oct 3, 2011, 1:21:51 PM10/3/11
to
In article <9eu71e...@mid.individual.net>, Paul Bird
<pa...@nospamcamtutor.co.uk> scribeth thus
Yes .. not many people know about that one....
>
>> Is it Friday yet or somewhere near there;?..
>

--
Tony Sayer



Paul Bird

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Oct 3, 2011, 1:30:03 PM10/3/11
to
On 03/10/2011 18:21, tony sayer wrote:
> In article<9eu71e...@mid.individual.net>, Paul Bird
<snip>

>>> And if anyone is serious about doing away with themselves they'll find a
>>> way .. one way or the other..
>>
>> Nitrogen.
>
> Yes .. not many people know about that one....
>>
>>> Is it Friday yet or somewhere near there;?..
>>
>
It's been discussed on here before mainly in terms of what happened at
NASA and other places when inert areas were created for safety by
purging them with Nitrogen and people walked into them without an oxygen
meter or without breathing apparatus, took a couple of breaths, passed
out and never came round.

PB

Paul Bird

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Oct 3, 2011, 1:32:17 PM10/3/11
to
Of course some silly buggers have managed it with helium by playing the
"look what a high pitched voice I've got", whilst forgetting it doesn't
have any oxygen in it. Perhaps, for that reason along, these days, it
does. I strongly suspect that what is sold as "balloon gas" contains
enough oxygen to sustain life.

PB

Fevric J. Glandules

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Oct 3, 2011, 2:18:31 PM10/3/11
to
Tim Ward wrote:

> Last time this was in the news I think the answer was that the combination
> pill had side effects and that it wasn't fair to inflict these on the vast
> majority of paracetamol users who aren't trying to commit suicide.

http://www.pharmweb.net/pwmirror/pwy/paracetamol/pharmwebpicf.html

Fevric J. Glandules

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Oct 3, 2011, 2:20:45 PM10/3/11
to
Duncan Wood wrote:

> Yup, it's hardly a massive restriction of ones's freedom & if you need
> that much paracetamol talking to your doctors probably a good idea anyway.

Apart from the economics of not being able to bulk buy, there are
circumstance where you might *need* to bulk buy. For example,
you might live abroad in a country where the local meds are of
dubious quality.

Duncan Wood

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Oct 3, 2011, 2:24:09 PM10/3/11
to
in which case you can get it in bulk by going to a doctor. You just can't
buy it over the counter.

Fevric J. Glandules

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:16:17 PM10/3/11
to
Frederick Williams wrote:

> Here: news:Xns9F6777AAF6F3Ewo...@88.198.244.100 you may
> read about another example of Tesco bullying its customers.

A slightly more direct link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/2011/sep/16/tesco-shopping-supermarket-prices-check-writing?CMP=twt_gu

Roland Perry

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:14:46 PM10/3/11
to
In message <j6cuds$t7h$1...@dont-email.me>, at 18:20:45 on Mon, 3 Oct 2011,
Fevric J. Glandules <f...@invalid.invalid> remarked:
>Apart from the economics of not being able to bulk buy, there are
>circumstance where you might *need* to bulk buy. For example,
>you might live abroad in a country where the local meds are of
>dubious quality.

And there seems to be an assumption everyone can just the shops whenever
they want. Try being old, sick, rural, car-less etc and see how long 32
tablets lasts your family.
--
Roland Perry

Tim Ward

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:26:30 PM10/3/11
to
"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ZAw$CFkmmg...@perry.co.uk...
>
> Try being old, sick, rural, car-less

If you're all of those you can probably get a prescription without any
trouble.

The most effective painkiller prescription I had was for some bog standard,
but double strength, Ibuprofen. The local doctor in this little town in
Kosovo was quite happy to write out the prescription, but said there was
none of the drug to be found in town. However one of my colleagues on this
mission was a US air force pilot so he blagged his way into the local US
army base and got the prescription fulfilled for me.

--
Tim Ward - posting as an individual unless otherwise clear
Brett Ward Limited - www.brettward.co.uk
Cambridge Accommodation Notice Board - www.brettward.co.uk/canb


Fevric J. Glandules

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:28:47 PM10/3/11
to
Paul Bird wrote:

> Of course some silly buggers have managed it with helium by playing the
> "look what a high pitched voice I've got", whilst forgetting it doesn't
> have any oxygen in it. Perhaps, for that reason along, these days, it
> does. I strongly suspect that what is sold as "balloon gas" contains
> enough oxygen to sustain life.

BOC say: "Never deliberately inhale balloon gas. Breathing 100%
balloon gas will produce unconsciousness and death due to
lack of oxygen."

Jon Anderson

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:43:59 PM10/3/11
to
On 10/3/2011 2:49 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> 15 years of Labour...is depressing..now the bill is in..

Did you learn to count at Trinity College or was that something saved
for Part III mathmos? :)

Jon

Alex Selby

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Oct 3, 2011, 3:50:11 PM10/3/11
to
On 03/10/11 20:26, Tim Ward wrote:
> "Roland Perry"<rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:ZAw$CFkmmg...@perry.co.uk...
>>
>> Try being old, sick, rural, car-less
>
> If you're all of those you can probably get a prescription without any
> trouble.
>
> The most effective painkiller prescription I had was for some bog standard,
> but double strength, Ibuprofen. The local doctor in this little town in
> Kosovo was quite happy to write out the prescription, but said there was
> none of the drug to be found in town. However one of my colleagues on this
> mission was a US air force pilot so he blagged his way into the local US
> army base and got the prescription fulfilled for me.
>

No need to go to Kosovo or an army base. Double strength (400mg)
ibuprofen is readily available in Boots (and all good shops).

Roland Perry

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Oct 3, 2011, 4:04:45 PM10/3/11
to
In message <j6d3lj$5vd$1...@dont-email.me>, at 20:50:11 on Mon, 3 Oct 2011,
Alex Selby <a.p....@REMOVE.pobox.com> remarked:
>No need to go to Kosovo or an army base. Double strength (400mg)
>ibuprofen is readily available in Boots (and all good shops).

I find that taking two 200mg at once is just as effective.
--
Roland Perry

Tim Ward

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Oct 3, 2011, 4:12:19 PM10/3/11
to
"Alex Selby" <a.p....@REMOVE.pobox.com> wrote in message
news:j6d3lj$5vd$1...@dont-email.me...
>
> No need to go to Kosovo or an army base. Double strength (400mg)
> ibuprofen is readily available in Boots (and all good shops).

Point was that I really needed it!

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 3, 2011, 4:48:22 PM10/3/11
to
In article <4e8a107d$0$2552$da0f...@news.zen.co.uk>, j...@durge.org (Jon
No Trinity mathematicians I knew regarded the Tripos as being about actually
counting anything. Perish the thought! Counting is for engineers.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Tim Ward

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Oct 3, 2011, 4:55:30 PM10/3/11
to
<rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ouGdnWSeRLILghfT...@giganews.com...
>
> No Trinity mathematicians I knew regarded the Tripos as being about
> actually
> counting anything. Perish the thought! Counting is for engineers.

Do TMS still keep their accounts in reverse duodecimal?

Paul Bird

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Oct 3, 2011, 5:04:42 PM10/3/11
to
I was speculating but thank you for clearing that up.

PB

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 3, 2011, 5:10:42 PM10/3/11
to
In article <9eulq2...@mid.individual.net>, t...@brettward.co.uk (Tim Ward)
wrote:

> <rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:ouGdnWSeRLILghfT...@giganews.com...
> >
> > No Trinity mathematicians I knew regarded the Tripos as being about
> > actually counting anything. Perish the thought! Counting is for
> > engineers.
>
> Do TMS still keep their accounts in reverse duodecimal?

Pass. In my time they didn't have to as they still had Łsd to keep them in.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Alex Selby

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Oct 4, 2011, 12:05:18 AM10/4/11
to
Ah, but you're forgetting that the placebo effect is proportional
to the square of the marketing. Do your puny 200mg tablets have
orange lightening effects like these? I think not.
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Ibuprofen-Caplets-400mg-24-Caplets_11261/

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 3:36:49 AM10/4/11
to
In message <j6e0lv$hib$1...@dont-email.me>, at 05:05:18 on Tue, 4 Oct 2011,
Alex Selby <a.p....@REMOVE.pobox.com> remarked:
>>> No need to go to Kosovo or an army base. Double strength (400mg)
>>> ibuprofen is readily available in Boots (and all good shops).
>>
>> I find that taking two 200mg at once is just as effective.
>
>Ah, but you're forgetting that the placebo effect is proportional
>to the square of the marketing. Do your puny 200mg tablets have
>orange lightening effects like these? I think not.
>http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Ibuprofen-Caplets-400mg-24-Caplets_11261/

I suppose it's a way to get round the purchase restrictions (two boxes
of 24 double-strength is presumably OK, but four boxes 24 of normal
strength wouldn't be).

They don't seem to sell double-strength Paracetamol, but I'm surprised
they'll mail order packets of 32 Paracetamol, given the apparent 16
limit on retail.
--
Roland Perry

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 4, 2011, 4:57:42 AM10/4/11
to
In article <0+tUdSxR...@perry.co.uk>, rol...@perry.co.uk (Roland Perry)
wrote:
You can buy Paracetamol in 32s as long as the sale is supervised by a
pharmacist. I always buy that way.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 5:11:23 AM10/4/11
to
In message <P-WdnfY5H98bVxfT...@giganews.com>, at 03:57:42
on Tue, 4 Oct 2011, rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk remarked:

>> They don't seem to sell double-strength Paracetamol, but I'm
>> surprised they'll mail order packets of 32 Paracetamol, given the
>> apparent 16 limit on retail.
>
>You can buy Paracetamol in 32s as long as the sale is supervised by a
>pharmacist. I always buy that way.

How does that work by mail order?
--
Roland Perry

Alan Braggins

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Oct 4, 2011, 7:40:40 AM10/4/11
to
I think it's a shame that the advertising for the "new unique formulation"
Nurofen brand that contains both ibuprofen and paracetemol isn't obliged
to qualify that by saying "or you could equally well just use both ibuprofen
and paracetemol".

Jules Richardson

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Oct 4, 2011, 8:18:24 AM10/4/11
to
On Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:11:23 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
>>You can buy Paracetamol in 32s as long as the sale is supervised by a
>>pharmacist. I always buy that way.
>
> How does that work by mail order?

You just need a really big return envelope for the pharmicist?

Jules Richardson

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Oct 4, 2011, 8:21:10 AM10/4/11
to
On Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:40:40 +0100, Alan Braggins wrote:
> I think it's a shame that the advertising for the "new unique
> formulation" Nurofen brand that contains both ibuprofen and paracetemol
> isn't obliged to qualify that by saying "or you could equally well just
> use both ibuprofen and paracetemol".

Do you get US-style drug ads on TV there these days? i.e. 50% of the ad
is arty-farty touchy-feely soft-focus bollocks about how wonderful the
product is, and the other 50% is doom and gloom about all the possible
side effects and how it might actually kill you...

cheers

Jules

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 8:24:21 AM10/4/11
to
In message <j6etnm$8gu$2...@dont-email.me>, at 12:21:10 on Tue, 4 Oct 2011,
Jules Richardson <jules.richa...@gmail.com> remarked:

>Do you get US-style drug ads on TV there these days?

Like most things, the trend is crossing the Atlantic. I'm sure I saw one
in the UK recently for a prescription drug with the very common usa-ian
request to "ask your doctor for..." in the advert.
--
Roland Perry

tony sayer

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Oct 4, 2011, 8:35:35 AM10/4/11
to
In article <0+tUdSxR...@perry.co.uk>, Roland Perry
<rol...@perry.co.uk> scribeth thus
Seems to me that retail is a very easy way to obtain when your in that
desperate state .. whereas mail order isn't so easy and quick...
--
Tony Sayer

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 9:07:54 AM10/4/11
to
In message <ThJnWpBX...@bancom.co.uk>, at 13:35:35 on Tue, 4 Oct
2011, tony sayer <to...@bancom.co.uk> remarked:
>>They don't seem to sell double-strength Paracetamol, but I'm surprised
>>they'll mail order packets of 32 Paracetamol, given the apparent 16
>>limit on retail.
>
>Seems to me that retail is a very easy way to obtain when your in that
>desperate state .. whereas mail order isn't so easy and quick...

That may be true, but the law is concerned with packet size, regardless.
Maybe mail order is an unexpected loophole, but the law says "sold by
retail in the course of a business elsewhere than at a registered
pharmacy"
--
Roland Perry

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 4, 2011, 9:23:51 AM10/4/11
to
In article <oanT0A+7...@perry.co.uk>, rol...@perry.co.uk (Roland Perry)
wrote:
Presumably they employ a pharmacist.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 9:40:39 AM10/4/11
to
In message <Lq6dnS5ZWpN6lRbT...@giganews.com>, at 08:23:51
on Tue, 4 Oct 2011, rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk remarked:
>> >You can buy Paracetamol in 32s as long as the sale is supervised by a
>> >pharmacist. I always buy that way.
>>
>> How does that work by mail order?
>
>Presumably they employ a pharmacist.

Seems like a loophole, how can they judge the suitability of selling it
to you?
--
Roland Perry

Ian Jackson

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Oct 4, 2011, 10:03:19 AM10/4/11
to
In article <4e8793e1$0$2429$c3e8da3$e5d1...@news.astraweb.com>,
<James > wrote:
>Basically I ended up being surrounded by the manager for the checkouts,
>the deputy manger for the store and a security guard. And they wouldn’t
>let me leave the store with the medicines I had bought, they kept on
>saying it was against company policy. When the store manager turned up
>I started recording this on my ipod, I told them I was doing this and
>they told me to stop because of company policy I refused. I was really
>shaking and felt very intimidated and unwell I also left my card in the
>card reader I was so shaken. I have about 10 minutes of audio where
>they will not let me leave the store with the items I had purchased.

You were unlawfully detained. This is both a crime and a civil
wrong. You can sue Tesco for damages if you like.

> I did then give him the extra packets of paracetamol and ibuprofen

You were robbed. That is, the store deprived you of your property
using the threat of violence. The fact that you were offered a refund
is of no consequence.

>Even if I wasn’t allowed to buy the medicines are they allowed to stop
>me from leaving the building ? I did pop into the police station later
>in the day to ask if they were allowed to detain me and they said it
>was a civil mater. I also asked the police if Tesco had rung them and
>they refused to answer.

Did you take the name of the police officer who told you it was "a
civil matter" ? You should name and shame.

You might also make a formal complaint although making complaints
about the police is pointless because the whole complaints process is
stacked up against you.


I would write to Tesco:

Dear Sirs

On <date> at <time> I was involved in a dispute with your staff in
your Fulbourn store. This was regarding my purchase of some
painkillers.

Firstly: this is a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection
Act. Please provide me with copies of any and all CCTV footage you
have of this incident.

Secondly: I was unlawfully detained, and subsequently robbed of my
property, by your staff. I demand L200 in compensation and an
apology.

Here is a more complete narrative of events:

[ insert your description above ]

Regardless of your obligations under legislation controlling the
supply of pharmaceuticals, your staff had no power in law to detain
me, nor to insist that I give up what was by then my property.
Accordingly your staff's detention of me constituted unlawful
imprisonment and their confiscation of my purchases was robbery.
Both of these are criminal as well as civil offences.

I look forward to your early reply.

You should send this ASAP as the CCTV tape may be reused.

--
Ian Jackson personal email: <ijac...@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
These opinions are my own. http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~ijackson/
PGP2 key 1024R/0x23f5addb, fingerprint 5906F687 BD03ACAD 0D8E602E FCF37657

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 10:21:12 AM10/4/11
to
In message <Rxv*js...@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, at 15:03:19 on Tue,
4 Oct 2011, Ian Jackson <ijac...@chiark.greenend.org.uk> remarked:

> [ insert your description above ]

Possibly an edited and less emotional version. Just stick to very plain
facts.

> Regardless of your obligations under legislation controlling the
> supply of pharmaceuticals,

No-one has been able to find any such legislation (only stuff about
packet size).
--
Roland Perry

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 4, 2011, 11:28:17 AM10/4/11
to
In article <VM88BiVX...@perry.co.uk>, rol...@perry.co.uk (Roland Perry)
wrote:
Telepathy?

--
Colin Rosenstiel

zulu

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Oct 4, 2011, 11:39:35 AM10/4/11
to

"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5+$X96ZYZ...@perry.co.uk...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/172674.stm

(1998)


--
zulu


Ben Harris

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Oct 4, 2011, 12:01:44 PM10/4/11
to
In article <YMFiq.1383$KQ5....@newsfe04.ams2>,
All that that explicitly says is "The new rules limit the sale of
analgesics such as paracetamol and aspirin in general stores to just
sixteen tablets per box." It doesn't claim the existence of a rule
limiting the number of boxes per buyer, let alone refer to the actual
legislation in question.

--
Ben Harris

Alan

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Oct 4, 2011, 12:23:36 PM10/4/11
to
Not a legal statement, but this is probably the current state of play:

http://www.pharmweb.net/pwmirror/pwy/paracetamol/pharmwebpic3.html

"When sold in pharmacies pack sizes are limited to a maximum of 32
tablets, and in shops other than pharmacies pack sizes are limited to a
maximum of 16 tablets. Multiple packs can be purchased provided the total
does not exceed 100 tablets. For quantities of more than 100 tablets a
doctor's prescription is necessary. These limitations do not apply to
products in the form of liquids, effervescent tablets or powders.

In addition to these statutory requirements, the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) has advised pharmacists that they should
restrict sales of paracetamol to one pack of 32 tablets per sale unless
there are 'justifiable circumstances' for selling more than one pack. The
RPSGB has not defined what constitutes 'justifiable circumstances'."

--
Alan

To Reply, use e-s.news AT ourmailbox.org.uk in a sensible manner....

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 1:07:40 PM10/4/11
to
In message <YMFiq.1383$KQ5....@newsfe04.ams2>, at 16:39:35 on Tue, 4
Oct 2011, zulu <zulu.romeo...@ntlworld.com> remarked:
>>> Regardless of your obligations under legislation controlling the
>>> supply of pharmaceuticals,
>>
>> No-one has been able to find any such legislation (only stuff about packet
>> size).
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/172674.stm

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you posted that to
confirm the legislation only talks about packet size, and not number of
packets. Because that's what it does.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 1:11:18 PM10/4/11
to
In message <op.v2t45...@sepura800.sepura.co.uk>, at 17:23:36 on
Tue, 4 Oct 2011, Alan <e-s....@example.invalid> remarked:
>Not a legal statement, but this is probably the current state of play:
>
>http://www.pharmweb.net/pwmirror/pwy/paracetamol/pharmwebpic3.html
>
>"When sold in pharmacies pack sizes are limited to a maximum of 32
>tablets, and in shops other than pharmacies pack sizes are limited to a
>maximum of 16 tablets. Multiple packs can be purchased provided the
>total does not exceed 100 tablets. For quantities of more than 100
>tablets a doctor's prescription is necessary. These limitations do not
>apply to products in the form of liquids,

The law restricts the size of liquid paracetamol products too. Or are
they simply saying that you don't measure liquids as a number of
"tablets".

>effervescent tablets or powders.
>
>In addition to these statutory requirements, the Royal Pharmaceutical
>Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) has advised pharmacists that they
>should restrict sales of paracetamol to one pack of 32 tablets per
>sale unless there are 'justifiable circumstances' for selling more
>than one pack. The RPSGB has not defined what constitutes 'justifiable
>circumstances'."

Fine, that's advice for pharmacists. But the sales in question, in
supermarkets etc, are by *not* pharmacists (hence the restriction to
packets of 16 not 32).
--
Roland Perry

Jules Richardson

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Oct 4, 2011, 2:34:50 PM10/4/11
to
Trial and error?

Message has been deleted

Tim Ward

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Oct 4, 2011, 3:44:36 PM10/4/11
to
"Roland Perry" <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote in message
news:oanT0A+7...@perry.co.uk...
Don't think that "genuine Canadian pharmacies" take a blind bit of notice of
UK law.

rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk

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Oct 4, 2011, 4:23:15 PM10/4/11
to
In article <ouGdnWSeRLILghfT...@giganews.com>,
rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk () wrote:

> In article <4e8a107d$0$2552$da0f...@news.zen.co.uk>, j...@durge.org
> (Jon Anderson) wrote:
>
> > On 10/3/2011 2:49 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> > > 15 years of Labour...is depressing..now the bill is in..
> >
> > Did you learn to count at Trinity College or was that something
> > saved for Part III mathmos? :)
>
> No Trinity mathematicians I knew regarded the Tripos as being about
> actually counting anything. Perish the thought! Counting is for
> engineers.

Confirmed at the TMS stall at Societies' Fair today. It's nice to confirm
the eternal verities.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Tim Ward

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Oct 4, 2011, 4:25:13 PM10/4/11
to
<rosen...@cix.compulink.co.uk> wrote in message
news:cPCdnQXUCJCu9hbT...@giganews.com...
>>
>> No Trinity mathematicians I knew regarded the Tripos as being about
>> actually counting anything. Perish the thought! Counting is for
>> engineers.
>
> Confirmed at the TMS stall at Societies' Fair today. It's nice to confirm
> the eternal verities.

Pure mathematicians can count up to 0. Applied mathematicians can count up
to 1. Anyone who can count up to 2 is an engineer.

Ben Hutchings

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Oct 4, 2011, 4:36:58 PM10/4/11
to
It's not a loophole; mail order naturally provides a period for the
potential-suicide to reconsider.

Ben.

--
Ben Hutchings
We get into the habit of living before acquiring the habit of thinking.
- Albert Camus

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 5:15:57 PM10/4/11
to
In message <9f1614...@mid.individual.net>, at 20:44:36 on Tue, 4 Oct
2011, Tim Ward <t...@brettward.co.uk> remarked:
>>>> They don't seem to sell double-strength Paracetamol, but I'm
>>>> surprised they'll mail order packets of 32 Paracetamol, given the
>>>> apparent 16 limit on retail.
>>>
>>>You can buy Paracetamol in 32s as long as the sale is supervised by a
>>>pharmacist. I always buy that way.
>>
>> How does that work by mail order?
>
>Don't think that "genuine Canadian pharmacies" take a blind bit of notice of
>UK law.

Perhaps not, but the one introduced earlier in the thread is UK based.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry

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Oct 4, 2011, 5:17:24 PM10/4/11
to
In message <slrnj8mrja.2nu.b...@decadent.org.uk>, at
21:36:58 on Tue, 4 Oct 2011, Ben Hutchings
<ben-publ...@decadent.org.uk> remarked:
>> That may be true, but the law is concerned with packet size, regardless.
>> Maybe mail order is an unexpected loophole, but the law says "sold by
>> retail in the course of a business elsewhere than at a registered
>> pharmacy"
>
>It's not a loophole; mail order naturally provides a period for the
>potential-suicide to reconsider.

That's not the point, the law is about the maximum size of packets (that
can be sold via non-pharmacies). Any amount of "cooling off period"
can't change that.
--
Roland Perry
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