28 November 2014: Tesco's sale of paracetamol
Updated 31 March 2015
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Members of the public alleged that the Bathwick Hill Tesco Express store was promoting a ‘2 for 1’ offer on paracetamol tablets next to the check-out, in breach of MHRA guidance.
MHRA did not uphold the complaint. Tesco Stores Limited carried out a thorough investigation and confirmed that the store had no point of sale offer on paracetamol tablets. From photo evidence, it appeared that an adjacent product was on offer and this may have led to confusion. Tesco also confirmed that they never ran multi-buy promotions on paracetamol products.
MHRA advice
MHRA strongly discourages the sale and supply of large quantities of over-the-counter analgesics (paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen) since they may undermine the intention of the pack size restrictions that the government introduced for the protection of public safety.
MHRA’s best practice guidance on the sale of medicines for pain relief states that promotional offers that encourage the sale of more than one pack should not be used.