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Alison Savory wrote to the Chief Executive of Boots after her children picked up a sex toy in the Camberley branch
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Horrified mum boycotts Boots after children pick up sex toy

By Becky Barnes
January 14, 2013

A disgusted mum is boycotting high street chemist Boots after she found her children playing with a sex toy near the checkouts.

Alison Savory wrote to Boots chief executive Alex Gourlay after her sons, aged six and eight, picked up a purple Durex vibrator displayed ‘prominently’ in the store.

The mum-of-three, from Crowthorne, said: “Call me a prude, but it is not something children should be exposed to.

“Boots presents a family image – since when did it turn into Ann Summers?”

Alison, an acupuncturist, let her sons wait near the tills at the Camberley store while paying for her shopping with her two-year-old daughter on December 23.

She said: “I don’t choose to take my children into a sex shop, but in a family shop I felt happy for the children to run around.”

The 42-year-old was ‘flabbergasted’ and ‘embarrassed’ when she found them playing with the penis-shaped toy displayed at their eye level by a wall of condoms next to the till.

She said “I wasn’t ready to have that conversation in the middle of a busy Boots – I was very embarrassed.

“I felt Boots took my choice away as a parent and that upset me.”

Alison’s letter asked the chief executive to consider the ‘early sexualisation’ of children in a world where their ‘innocence and lives are already bombarded with inappropriate images’.

She wrote to say she was ‘deeply disappointed’ a family company was contributing to the ‘erosion’ and urged him to consider whether the products and product placement were appropriate.

Responding on behalf of Mr Gourlay, Jennifer Freeman, customer manager, said the products were sold ‘after much research and as a result of customer demand’.

She said Boots believed the products were beneficial for customers and their sexual wellbeing and were presented to ‘demystify’ customers.

She added they were stocked in the healthcare area where customers could receive advice and support, but they would take Alison’s feedback on board.

Alison said: “I don’t want my children demystified in Boots and they took away my choice about what my children are exposed to in the pursuit of profit.

“I have therefore made the decision to boycott Boots and have asked them to donate my Advantage Card credit to NSPCC.”

She said she thinks if products like this are on sale they should be out of a child’s eyeline.

Alison shared her experiences on Facebook, which triggered outrage among mums.

Mum Emma Frost, 33, from Jennett’s Park, said “I think it’s appalling for a family shop which sells children’s clothes and aims strongly for parents as a demographic.

“I wouldn’t want to be in the situation where I’m forced to explain that kind of thing to my daughter as the sexualisation of young people now is such a horrible and hard issue to try and control as it is.”

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Most recent user comments 38 of 38

What a complete prude if you cant buy this sort of thing in Boots where can anyone go ??????

yoda, Reading
16/03/2013 at 00:13

Boots is not a playground, it's a chemist store with many products that are unsuitable for children if they get hold of them. I suggest this mother, instead of being horrified that her children were playing with with items, that don't belong to her, supervise her children and don't let them run around while she shops. Personally, I'm sick of having kids running around unsupervised by parents, who are often gabbing on their phones, poking, opening, playing with, things that are for sale. Such a shame Boots have demystified her children and she's going to boycott them. Good, the rest of us can shop in peace.

Silver surfer., Bracknell
23/01/2013 at 15:37

Lainie sorry for my delay in reply, i have been busy playing minecraft with my online/real friends. My vicarious way of life is in no way limited to online 'NEWS' papers such as this. In fact, in quite well known and respected in the lifestile forums such as mumsnet which i frequent on a regular basis, imposing my advice on those such as yourself who don't need it in the REAL world. Rearding your comment "No problem with Boots stocking them, just not at childrens eye / touch level or that close to the till" I assume that you are recommending that boots place someone on the door so that, should they spot someone with a child,they move the offending items to a higher level then, should some slightly older/taller children enter, they move them to another, higher level. Would THAT be acceptable or are you one of those who are NEVER satisfied, no matter how hard these multi million pound profit makers try?

Country chap, wokingham
20/01/2013 at 15:56

Neal - reading the comments on Daily Fail - she has made herself look a complete twit

Her poor FaceBook friend from Jennett's Park must be mortified her Facebook comment has gone viral!

CMK
20/01/2013 at 13:21

I hope I won the Euromillions last night, mainly because I want to follow this woman around and see if she ever goes into a Boots shop again. Imagine the torture she'll experience when there's a Boots RIGHT THERE and Superdrug is a bus ride to the next nearest provincial griefhole.

Bumface, London
19/01/2013 at 15:43

I hope I won the Euromillions last night, mainly because I want to follow this woman around for the rest of her life, watching her torture when there's a Boots RIGHT THERE and the nearest Superdrug is a bus ride away to next provincial griefhole.

Bumface, London
19/01/2013 at 15:43

I think Ms Savory, LicAc, MBAcC, PhD has made herself look rather silly, not just here but also to the 628 people who commented on the Daily Mail Story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260984/Horrified-mother-boycotts-Boots-finding-young-children-playing-sex-toy-near-checkouts.html#comments

If I need acupuncture for anything I shall be sure to steer clear of someone who overreacts in such a way.

Neal Evans, Forest Park
18/01/2013 at 23:20

Wait until the kids get their hands on the interweb

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
18/01/2013 at 07:48

Horrified of Crowthorne.

What a terrible experience. Make sure you never take your children into a newsagent as they may open a paper and see ladies rudey bits. Never take them to a chinese takeaway either as they wil try to sell you prawn balls and squid rings. It's a wicked perverse world out there you must fight it.

parlovero, Earley
18/01/2013 at 07:10

And for the record, I googled local newspapers (although I assumed she lived here in Camberley) having just been reminding my sister about the family in Boots last week, as at the time, she looked so horrified (and so were we to be fair, although we spotted the toys and distracted our kids from looking at them...that lady didn't see them).

No problem with Boots stocking them, just not at childrens eye / touch level or that close to the till. That way I can choose not to take them over to that area.

Lainie
17/01/2013 at 22:16

Ah bless you, I have heard that there are people who believe every little detail word for word, that they read in the press, and here you are!

Please try to get an overall grasp on REALITY! Us grown ups are out here living in the real world with our real lives, rather thanjust living vicariously through online papers...

Lainie
17/01/2013 at 22:11

Lainie, which bit of: QUOTE: "She said: “I don’t choose to take my children into a sex shop, but in a family shop I felt happy for the children to run around.”

Is it that is confusing your pretty little head into thinking that the boys were NOT running around?

The comments people are making don't NECESSARILY relate to the time of the incident. Please try to get an overall grasp of what the grown ups are saying here.

Country chap, wokingham
17/01/2013 at 20:19

Unfortunately, you're not commenting on the facts. The boys weren't 'running round', they were with her at the till. She said that in a shop like that, she felt safe for them to be walking round without her. They weren't at that time though, they were next to her. I don't feel till points at children's eye and hand level is appropriate for sex toys.

Lainie
17/01/2013 at 16:41

This is totally ridiculous. If you watch after your children in a shop instead of letting them Run free this could have been easily prevented. Complete over reaction. .

Cheryl c, wokingham
16/01/2013 at 20:14

At least she's got her picture in the paper. One target accomplished.

The Royal, Earley
16/01/2013 at 15:48

So the kids were fine with it but the parent took it badly? A neat encapsulation of the problem she represents.

DX C
16/01/2013 at 15:35

Lesson learned ; supervise your children and then you maintain control over what they pick up.

Snowdrop, Twyford
16/01/2013 at 14:36

I expect the children had to explain to mummy what it was !

graywok, Woosehill
16/01/2013 at 12:49

Talk about trying to wrap kids in cotton wool. I agree that it isn't an ideal thing for young children to be playing with, but if they haven't got a clue what it is, it is unlikely to traumatise them for life. This reaction is massively over the top and laughing the whole incident off would have been the best approach.

I would actually be more concerened about leaving 3 kids on there own whilst the adult went to pay. The nature of Boots is that they sell things which may cause embarassment, so it's best not to give kids free run of the shop if you are going to be easily offended.

Smiffy, Reading
16/01/2013 at 11:46

Nothing wrong with tying up girls with ropes and chains before locking them into see through boxes. Now that's magic.

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
16/01/2013 at 11:35

I wholly agree with Mrs Savoury here, these UN Savoury items should indeed be kept under wraps if not, under the bed. I would go further and BAN pregnant women from coming out of the house for fear of exposing our children to the sexualisation of society. Children need to be kept in teh dark as much as possible for as long as possible if we are to do ANYTHING about keeping the high levels of teenage pregnacy and the extending proliferation of STI's in our teenage community. Well done Mrs Savoury for doing your very best to return us to the stone age of sexual health.

Country chap, wokingham
16/01/2013 at 11:22

This story has caused a bit of a buzzzzz

Jeppo
16/01/2013 at 11:09

Hi Paul - you snogged any underage girls lately?

#fiftyshadesofdebbiemcgee

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
16/01/2013 at 11:08

Have I stumbled onto Mumsnet by mistake?

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
16/01/2013 at 09:48

Brap Brap!!!!!

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
15/01/2013 at 20:20

My main concern with this "story" is that the mother feels justified in letting them "run around" the shop unsupervised and feels that it is acceptable for them to "play" with anything off the shelf. My feelings are that she should have to buy any items that her children play with, I certainly wouldn't want to buy anything that her kids had been mauling!

Moral of the story: Look after your children, keep them with you and then issues like this won't occur.

I for one will be making a point of using Boots now we know that her and her children will be absent!!!

Mrs Biggles
15/01/2013 at 14:45

*Applauds Maddie Vegas* hear hear!!

HoneysMummy, forest park
15/01/2013 at 12:02

All kids pick up things in shops when you are near the checkout or queuing - you just laugh it off!

Besides boots is a Chemist first and foremost and sexual wellbeing has always been sold in a chemist!

Some people moan about anything and everything!

CMK
15/01/2013 at 09:25

PoneRana - so you'd advocate a return to the days when a nervous young man had to summon the courage to make a condom purchase? For the sake of my daughters sexual health, and the minimising of chance relating to pregnancy, I'd rather products relating to a perfectly normal human behaviour we're readily available.

Agreed that Boots should have been a little more circumspect in their product placement - but Disgusted Mrs Savory has only brought ridicule upon herself by going to the press.

Of all the things she could be getting worked up about - the slaughter of innocents in Syria....

....the fact that people in this borough go hungry and need the help of a Food Bank due to coalition policies demonising the less well off

....that violent crime against our children is not being tackled

....that we have an MP who sought nomination as a candidate on the basis of supporting Heatherwood, but has reneged on that pledge.

No, she's beside herself with pent up....fury...

...over a marital aid.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
14/01/2013 at 17:43

I agree with Badger. Children under the age of ten should not be exposed to sex toys. If Boots must sell them, and I have doubts about that, they should be kept behind the counter with condoms and other similar products.

PoneRana, Wokingham
14/01/2013 at 15:32

I don’t think it’s prudish to not want your young children playing with sex toys in a major high street store, sorry. I totally empathise with Mrs Savory on this. What next, crotchless pants next to the tills at Tesco!!! I have no problem with the sale or use of sex toys but I personally go to great lengths to protect my children from inappropriate behaviour. They have plenty of time to learn about such things when they are older. Not sure why Mrs Savoy is so derided here simply because she took offence at the open sale of sex toys in a high-street shop!! Anyway, comparing the sale of a sex toy to that of sanitary towels is laughable

the badger, Farley Hill
14/01/2013 at 14:53

just been past Boots.no sign of the lone shopper boycott.obviously at another shop with her marauding offspring trying to see if she can get some freebies for all the 'Distress' her little cherubs could be suffering from when they are left on their own in the shop.another parent who seems to think its everybody elses fault that they are not in control of their feral offsping.when i go to chinese for a meal i dont expect to get an indian same as i wouldnt go to mothercare to buy myself a 3 piece suit as its for infants.so to be in a chemist and be suprised that they sell items that most other shops dont sell is beyond belief.i might go to Tescos and boycott them because some woman has put her sanitary towels in the trolley that i am now using.get a grip woman-have home delivery but tell the nice man to knock on the door very quietly as it may make you jump.

Concerned Alot
14/01/2013 at 13:34

As a parent I can understand Mrs Savory's (really?!) discombobulation. But let's be clear, a two year old will have no understanding of what the item in question is, it's intimate uses, or why their parent is clearly hung up on such matters.

Perhaps Boots ought to consider it's product placement a little better. But then if we remain uptight about such matters and give vent to our deep seated prudery then how are we ever to raise our little darlings with a thoughtful and common sense approach to intimate behaviour between consenting adults (or maybe consenting adult singular, as the case maybe).

Anyway, coffee break over - perhaps a little 'me' time is in order!

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
14/01/2013 at 11:54

I cant say I ever want to have a conversation with my children on what a sex toy is and how to use it?

Does this mean that all pregnant women should hide away from the shops in case some ones child asks "mummy what's in that ladies tummy"??

blunt as a brick, forest park
14/01/2013 at 11:33

Classic. I have a friend, who, some years ago, was at a Christmas party given by a mate of her's. There were some excited children running present, and, at one point, one of the small boys came running downstairs and into the living room making rocket-noises and running about the place going 'Vrmmmm!' in front of the guests, holding a toy space shuttle in his hands. Suddenly, one of the guests said: "What's that he's got?"

It was actually the party organiser's, er, 'special toy,' which he'd taken from her bedroom upstairs, thinking it was a toy rocket.

I'm told the mother, in front of the 40 or so guests, wanted to die.

Sorry - the above isn't entirely relvant but it's a lot more entertaining than this story. My goodness. I'd have just told the child it was a toy space rocket and instructed him or her to put it back on the shelf.

The moral of the story: Shop at Superdrug.

dodgynews, Bracknell
14/01/2013 at 10:49

VERY slow news day?

Tom Edwards, Bracknell
14/01/2013 at 09:22

I doubt that a two year old has even the slightest idea what it was they were playing with and would want an explanation as to what it was. Why feel so embarrased anyway?

Also, take some responisibilties for your children and don't let them run about in shops! When they get hurt (or find something they shouldn't be playing with) who gets the blame, Yes Boots.