I went to buy cough syrup, and I didn't want to kind with alcohol anyway, but it occured to me that I didn't know whether or not I would even have been allowed to buy it. I noticed that the pharmacy had posted a sign that they wouldn't sell anything with dextromethorphan to people under 18, presumably since it has potential for abuse, but they didn't say anything about medications containing alcohol.
2007-03-11 19:18:33 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
No, your age won't be an issue.
Today, most over-the-counter products have been reformulated to contain no alcohol. There are a few exceptions. Most cough syrups today are alcohol-free. Now other cold medications are a little different, especially our old friend, NyQuil. At one time, NyQuil was 25% alcohol (or 50 proof)! Today it's only 10% (or 20 proof). As a matter of fact, in the U.S., 10% is the highest allowed amount of alcohol in most products (get this, homeopathic products are exempt from this rule, which doesn't surprise me since they don't have to be proven effective either!).
Products intended for children have a stricter ruling, for products for 6-12 years old - less than 5% alcohol; for products for kids under 6 - less than 0.5% alcohol.
You may be wondering - why is there any alcohol at all? Many chemicals have better solubility in alcohol than in water, so adding alcohol to a product prevented crystals from forming in the product. But we've come a long way since that time and today chemists have found ways to produce products that stay in solution without using alcohol. Yet, some of the products had a high alcohol content to act as a sedative. The "old" NyQuil had two sedating antihistamines along with 25% alcohol. Hence, when you took it, you went to sleep, which is probably the best medicine for a cold - rest!
Sorry this was so long. I hope this helps.
Rick the Pharmacist
2007-03-11 20:06:25 · answer #1 · answered by Rickydotcom 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
No, you can buy alcohol cough elixir under age 21.
There is an issue with dextromethorphan separate from alcohol. Teenagers have been buying it and getting high. If you take a lot of it, you can get hallucinations like LSD. Many pharmacies have taken to limiting sales to 2 bottles a person or having an age limit on it. The laws regarding dextromorphan distribution vary by state.
2007-03-12 01:51:51 · answer #2 · answered by Lea 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Basically, law provides that you do not have to be 21 to consume "non-alcoholic" products, or items with less than 0.5% ethanol. This is why you can consume (in some states) "non-alcoholic" beers before you turn 21.
But, don't worry. I bought many bottles of cough syrup, rubbing alcohol, and even n/a beer (St. Pauli's Girl, anyone?) in my tender years
Good luck!
2007-03-11 19:29:06 · answer #3 · answered by radiodxrichmond 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You don't need ID to purchase cough syrup, Nyquill, or anything else that is out on the shelves in the "cold aisle"
2007-03-12 06:48:33 · answer #4 · answered by Holiday Magic 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, there is no age limitation because of alcohol in cough syrup.
2007-03-11 19:26:37 · answer #5 · answered by Lyzz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no
2007-03-11 19:29:01 · answer #6 · answered by ME 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2007-03-11 19:24:49 · answer #7 · answered by KitKat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋