Under 21? Lowe's Won't Sell You Some Products

WMUR ^ | May 13, 2003 | Associated Press

[Living Free in NH]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lowe's Home Improvement Stores have introduced a nationwide policy that puts age requirements on customers buying some products that can be used as inhalants.

Last weekend, the chain backtracked on its original ban of 2,000 products, cutting the list to about 1,200. The change came after some consumers complained about not being able to buy basics such as latex paint and motor oil.

Law enforcement and many consumer advocates praise the move as a significant step toward reducing "huffing," the practice of inhaling toxic vapors from household products to get a quick high.

National groups say huffing causes 100 to 125 deaths a year, as well as health effects ranging from hearing loss to brain or kidney damage.

A Lowe's spokeswoman said the policy was created to bring some order to a patchwork of state laws regulating inhalants.

[Living Free in NH]

My 20 year old daughter just bought her first house. So, on the way to pick up a bottle of wine for her, I'll need to pick up some spray paint or super glue?

[Lazamataz]

I won't be satisfied until each and every product that can in any way harm anyone is completely banned.

[discostu]

Wow, Lowes is late to the dance. Huffer paranoia has been putting spray paint behind lock and key and only available to 21 and over in a plenty of places. Actually everywhere I've seen spray paint sold in the last year, guess I don't go to Lowes very often.

[goodnesswins]

WHY would a kid do THIS? I do NOT understand....and I wonder if this is God's way of making sure they don't reproduce.

[Jaded]

Guess so, at least until she's 21 or so. It's all for the children, right?

[octobersky]

A Lowe's spokeswoman said the policy was created to bring some order to a patchwork of state laws regulating inhalants.

Yeah, that and to protect themselves from an overly litigious society...

[KarlInOhio]

Is that to prevent sniffing it or to prevent graffiti?

[Izzy Dunne]

some consumers complained about not being able to buy basics such as latex paint and motor oil.

I take it that some folks have been inhaling motor oil ????

[discostu]

Sniffing (aka huffing depends on where you're from). It's pretty stupid. One of those manufacturered epidemics that's cops say is sweeping through the nation destroying out youth and yet no one has ever actually met some one that compulsively does it.

[Cynderbean]

"Huffing" gives a temporary high or "headrush". Other common products used for this are Liquid Paper (or white out) and whipped cream in cansisters (whip-its).

[Izzy Dunne]

I won't be satisfied until each and every product that can in any way harm anyone is completely banned.

Government regulation is a "product".
Government regulation can harm someone.
Therefore, you would ban government regulation, right?

Who would enforce it?

;->

[Normal4me]

My neighbor has a winter home across the street from me. The last time he was here he noticed his Freon lines were cut on his air conditioner. The service man came out and fixed it and told us both that kids are doing this, huffing Freon, as a way of getting high.

I don't know what the properties of Freon offer as a way of getting "High" other than depleting the brain of oxygen.

[Squawk 8888]

I actually did know a couple of huffers in the neighbourhood where I grew up but regulating the sales won't do a damn thing. I'm waiting for the hobby shops to start carding kids who are building model planes. Sheesh- and they wonder why America is raising a generation of overweight couch potatoes.

[Lazamataz]

Therefore, you would ban government regulation, right? Who would enforce it?

Organized anarchists.

[AngryJawa]

So let me see if I've got this straight:

At 18 I can legally vote, enter into contracts, go to war (you know-unimportant stuff). But I wouldn't be allowed to buy a drink or a can of spray paint. Sure, that makes sense.

You know, I'm way past that age but I still feel that the 18 to 21 year old group, dumb as they are at that stage in life, are treated unfairly in this regard. IMO, we should decide if majority begins at 18 or 21 and stick with it.

[Willie Green]

So, on the way to pick up a bottle of wine for her, I'll need to pick up some spray paint or super glue?

Tell your daughter to pick up her own spray paint or super glue at Builder's Square or Home Depot.

As far as the liquor goes, if she's underage in your state, you should be arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

She shouldn't be using paint or glue while she's drinking anyway.
Drunks just wind up making a horrible mess with that stuff.

[Mo1]

I will NEVER understand why kids think huffing brake fluid is cool

[Prospero]

Huffing certainly isn't anything new, but SHEESH!

While I don't agree with nannyism, I had a baffling experience not too long ago. I heard a strange bump out a back window and, when I parted the blinds, caught two neighbor girls filling a plastic bag with erzatz-Freon tapped from the house heat-pump.

Later, after they scattered, you could watch them in their back yard huffing from the bag, falling over and looking every bit like seasoned heroin addicts.

What is the facination with these sickening compounds. What does this say about the quality of afternoon television? (/Sarcasm)

[conservababeJen]

This is such amazing bull$hit. You're old enough to fight and die for your country, but too young to buy motor oil at Lowes. Grrrrrrrrr

Don't even get me started on how I feel about drinking laws...my Libertarian side might show. ugh

[DannyTN]

"I won't be satisfied until each and every product that can in any way harm anyone is completely banned. "

Let me guess. It wasn't machines that designed the matrix. It was the consumer safety councils.