Razor blades are a restricted item in the UK?!

[Hansel]

It's stamped right on the 10 pack from Wilkinson Sword. 'Gota be 16 or older, bub! Now I don't know about you guys, but I was younger than 16 when I first looked in a mirror and asked myself: "Wait, I'm getting a beard and mustache? At MY age!? What IS this crap!?"

Curiously, the 5 pack doesn't display the same markings.

 

[JPM]

That's kind of odd. Oh well, I guess all those scruffy faced teenagers are going to have to wait until they're 16 to clean up.

 

[CCMphysician]

I am actually more surprised that you can buy them at all. Britain isn't even a shadow of her former glory. It's the tragedy of the millennium.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I guess they don't care what their youth look like.

 

[bulldog]

I hope the law wasn't a result of the cartridge manufacturers' lobby. Those poor shaggy teens!

 

[ek.310]

wow..whats next..needing a permit in the USA for restoring metal shaving gear?!

 

[_JP_]

I suppose that part of the thinking is that if a guy younger than 16 needs to shave then his parents can buy the blades for him.

 

[don.putnick]

wow..whats next..needing a permit in the USA for restoring metal shaving gear?!

Worse ...

... a shaving learners permit
... shaving written and practical exams
... a shaving license
... annual inspection of shaving gear
... serial number on each blade
... FDA approval of all shaving soaps, creams, aftershaves
... nutritional labels on all shaving soaps, creams, aftershaves
... warning labels on all shaving supplies

 

[FiXXXer]

How many 15 year old kids are using double edge razor blades for their intended purpose? Most kids use cartridge razors, when they buy DE blades it's usually for some nefarious purpose. Honestly, it makes sense to me.

 

[CCMphysician]

How many 15 year old kids are using double edge razor blades for their intended purpose? Most kids use cartridge razors, when they buy DE blades it's usually for some nefarious purpose. Honestly, it makes sense to me.

I always forget that some people believe that making laws prevent crimes from happening. If that same logic were true, there wouldn't be any need to make the blades illegal because the greater crime of drug distribution would render it pointless.

 

[Tony_B]

I'm from England and my son is 15 and has a weishi for his peach fluff, lucky I've got a few spare razor blades around .

 

[Casey]

How many 15 year old kids are using double edge razor blades for their intended purpose? Most kids use cartridge razors, when they buy DE blades it's usually for some nefarious purpose. Honestly, it makes sense to me.

I learned to shave at 15, and I learned with a Gillette double-edge.

 

[talibeard]

Just another overprotective European government with too much time on their hands...

 

[Haligonian]

I was in Boots a few months ago, and attempting to buy the cheap Boots DE for my GF, to save her money on cartridges.
I got asked for ID.
I'm 20, and can't remember the last time I got stopped for alcohol, nevermind a razor.

 

[doesnotcompute]

It's part of The Offensive Weapons Act 1996 which imposes an age restriction on the sale of knives

(1) Any person who sells to a person under the age of sixteen years an article to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence [...]

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to—
(a) any knife, knife blade or razor blade, [...]

 

[Hansel]

To Tony_B: Rock on!

To Haligonian: LOL...

How many 15 year old kids are using double edge razor blades for their intended purpose? Most kids use cartridge razors, when they buy DE blades it's usually for some nefarious purpose. Honestly, it makes sense to me.

First: while I wasn't using a DE razor on a regular basis, I did use one more than a few times while staying at my grandparents house, and I think I was about 14 the first time I used one...

Second: The single edge blades with the spine are much easier to grip for non-shaving purposes. I can only assume that they must be easier to grip for non-shaving nefarious purposes as well. Plus, unlike shaving razor blades, you can get them...Pretty much anywhere. Department stores, hardware stores, K-mart, etc.

 

[Hansel]

It's part of The Offensive Weapons Act 1996 which imposes an age restriction on the sale of knives

(1) Any person who sells to a person under the age of sixteen years an article to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence [...]

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to—
(a) any knife, knife blade or razor blade, [...]

I find this act offensive.

Lets all remember NOT save the British next time ze vaterland goes out for lunch, ja?

 

[Pumpkin]

The single edge blades with the spine are much easier to grip for non-shaving purposes. I can only assume that they must be easier to grip for non-shaving nefarious purposes as well. Plus, unlike shaving razor blades, you can get them...Pretty much anywhere. Department stores, hardware stores, K-mart, etc.

Under the Act in question the sale of ANY bladed item is age-restricted in ANY location. It's another manifestation of the "Nanny State"...along with being over 18 to buy alcohol and cigarettes. However, it doesn't stop the wee toe-rags getting hold of them if they really want to

 

[CCMphysician]

I find this act offensive.

Lets all remember NOT save the British next time ze vaterland goes out for lunch, ja?

Ja, klingt gut zu mir.

 

[Shaman]

I bought a pack of injector blades and there was a small warning on the back that they were not to be sold to anyone under 18 (or maybe 16 don't remember and threw the card away). Can't say who made the blades, it was the house brand at CVS. I also noticed in three other stores there were NO DE or SE blades available at all. The injectors I got at CVS were the last two they had. Maybe something goofy is happening here in the states too, we just haven't been told about it yet.