Jo's Cafe

I don’t know how many of you have had to deal with the new laws put into place to prevent illegal drug makers from getting a hold of the ingredients in over the counter cold medicines to be made into meth – but I had my first experience today. Fortunately up until today, my OTC cold med needs have been nil, or the Wal-Mart Equate brand was fine.

But I feel a nasty cold coming on and being diabetic and hubby leaving in 3 days, the last thing I want to do is get sick, so I know just the OTC meds that work – Tylenol Cold Severe Congestion.

I stop at Target during lunch and of course instead of finding the medication on the shelf, there is a little plastic hanger with the picture of the product on it to be taken to the pharmacy. No problem – I want this crud GONE! Off to the pharmacy and I get out my drivers’ license and cash.

So the young fellow behind the counter gets my meds, has me look at them to make sure they are the right ones and then starts typing on the register keyboard.

I ask, “What are you putting in there?”
He responds, “General identifying information.”
“Don’t you just need to verify who I am via the picture and date of birth?”
“Yes, but they also want your general information for their records.”
“Okay, but I don’t like that part of it – understand the reason why, but don’t like it.”

So he bags up my items and then whoa – I have to sign for them too now? Did I just give away a first-born child of someone’s – since I don’t have any of my own (sorry Tre if they come get him!)

So for a box of 24 caplets of cold medication, I have to give up my general information on my drivers’ license AND sign for them.

Now – why can’t they apply the same restrictions to say – alcohol? The idea is to prevent meth dealers from getting their hands on large quantities of the main drug they use to make meth – but couldn’t the same concept be applied to alcohol sales? I can go into any liquor store or other store that sells basic alcoholic items and in a lot of cases just verbally give up my date of birth, or sometimes show my drivers’ license.

How many people would be prevented from purchasing alcohol to be consumed before entering the driver’s seat of a vehicle because of the hassle of the purchase?

I wonder.