Every once in awhile I'll go to the CVS drugstore here in Virginia and pick up some nicotine lozengers whenever I get the craving. I quit smoking in 2009.
For the first time, they made me show ID. Then they typed something into the cash register and gave my ID back. Looks like big brother wants to know who buys nicotine lozenges.
WTF ! Perhaps some government agency will get in touch with me so that they can 'help' me.
You should have asked them what they were typing. Maybe it was just your birthdate so they could prove you were old enough to buy them. Maybe.
This is what (they) tell us. The system needs to verify age for purchase.
Might have something to do with the observations that
NICOTINE inhibits COVID19.
Not sure what else it does, but this much was observed - nicotine users had less severe symptoms and better outcomes consistently, all other things being equal.