I was carded buying cough syrup in California?

The other day I went to Walgreens to buy two bottles of cough syrup after seeing them on sale in the Sunday newspaper. When I brought them up to the cashier he asked for my ID to see if I was 18. I'm 16, so I simply said I wasn't and walked out of the store.

I found this strange because I've purchased cough syrup at a different Walgreens store in the past (as recently as May) and never had any trouble buying it.

My question is whether this is:
1. a new policy for all Walgreens stores?
2. something each Walgreens (or other drug store) decides to do individually?
3. or a new law in California?

p.s. I realize that cough syrup contains DXM, which acts as a hallucinogen at high enough levels (not something used to make meth, that was in sudafed) and that teenagers use it as a legal way to get high. I'm not going to lie to you guys, that's why I was trying to buy it, I'm merely asking if theres a law prohibiting it now. Please, no lectures in morality, you're not my parents...

blooming chamomile,

When the bottle's barcode was scanned, a screen came up asking for age verification, so yes they were checking my age and I couldn't have gotten around it.

To the "TOP CONTRIBUTOR" that answered my question first,

People like you are why this country is so f'd up

As a Walgreens employee of over a year, I can tell you that this is a nation-wide Walgreens policy, which has been in existance since I have worked here. I cannot speak for other drug retailers.

Upon any DXE drug being scanned, the register prompts the cashier to enter the customer's date of birth. I am assuming that in the situation where the cashier failed to ask you for identification or date of birth, he/she probably just assumed that you were over the age of 18 and just entered a ficticious date of birth for you. (Very wrong, and if anyone were to ever find out about that, he/she would be terminated on the spot.)

You are also correct about the proper handling of PSE drugs and others of that nature. Those are dealt with so strictly, that they must be only sold at the pharmacy counter.

Law: 1

Drug abusers: 0

It doesn't matter why they asked, you, kiddo. The good news is that you were stopped.

Chances are that you are going to find this everywhere you go, not just at Walgreens and not just in California. Also, litigation is a big business these days and no one wants to be sued for providing a minor with a potentially dangerous substance.

It's aginest the law,and store policy.
now you hafto b e 18

It could be all three of you possibilities listed!! I Know they are cracking down do to the meth thing, but I don't know if its a law yet, I think each pharmacy has different policies! I know here in Wisconsin you get ID and you can only buy so much per month per STATE id showed! But we've had a lot of meth problems so we are really really cracking down!! OH well I guess just always be prepared to show ID pretty soon your going to get ID to get a cheese burger! WHO KNOWS!

I don't know but if it stops our children from getting out here and getting into nonsense that will hurt themselves I am all for it. I hope they keep up the good work. Sad when our own children won't be able to go to the store to pick up medicine that is needed and not abused because of the ones that do abuse it. Good luck and best wishes.

I'm not sure what exactly happened there. Did they actually say they were checking your age?

When I go to buy cold medicine, I usually have to show ID and sign something. This has been going on for a couple years now. (I'm 33, by the way.) This is for the medicine with pseudo-ephedrine in it. They track how much each individual person buys, I think because it's used to make meth. It kind of upsets me, actually. How much Advil Cold and Sinus do I have to buy before the FBI comes knocking at my door? Geesh.

It could be a Walgreens thing, or a California thing. It makes sense for them to do that, I guess, considering the misuse problem. Oh, I so want to lecture you...lol.

All cough medicines containing Ephredrine and Codeine were eventually banned in Australia in the early 80's..and possibly rightly so..they can be addictive and present a health risk.If you say I am not your parent,then fine,no lectures..OK..Your first mistake..2..bottles ..at once?C'mon!The cashier obviously knew what you were up to and decided to deal with it their way.Some people care and some don't.You rascal..I wish there was a way to show you what a difference a day makes in an entire life.Be cool.

I think the rules on cold meds are getting really tight everywhere. I live in Kansas and went into a Walgreen's to buy a decongestant. One I am obviously over 18(almost 40),
two I was wearing my hospital uniform and ID. They still wouldn't sell to me until I went back to the hospital and retrieved my drivers license.