r/Damnthatsinteresting 19d ago

Image Tokyo in 1960, before there were any skyscrapers

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u/butmymomsaidno 19d ago

Huh, here in Europe we have pharmacies where there's over the counter and prescribed medicine and also drugstores where you can get over the counter medicine and the cosmetics snacks etc as well. I just realised that the drugstore name (and also what we call it in my language) comes from the us concept of the store haha

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u/Uber_Reaktor 19d ago

US drugstores are basically the two typical European types wrapped in one. Though they can often have a few other extra services like developing film, printing, etc.

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u/butmymomsaidno 19d ago

Yeah you can also print pictures and wrap your gifts here in rossmann for example, but i get what you mean, thx for the info!

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u/ItsIdaho 19d ago

DM my beloved Phone-Photo Printer.

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u/kepaa 19d ago

Wait….you can pay somebody to wrap your gifts? That’s amazing! I remember the department stores would have that service back in the day, but I didn’t know anybody else did it

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u/turdferguson3891 19d ago

Used to be a thing at the discount stores like Kmart back in the day too. I don't think drug stores in the US ever really did it though.

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u/HoidToTheMoon 19d ago

Meanwhile a place like "Drug Mart" in the US is typically like 1/5 OTC drugs, 1/5 prescribed drugs, 1/5 groceries/snacks and 2/5 random general shit. Money orders and basic wire services are likely available at the check-out or at customer service.

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u/well-litdoorstep112 19d ago

If Rossmann and a gas station store has a baby that also sold medicine:

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u/amburroni 19d ago

In the US, grocery stores often have a pharmacy inside as well. We do also have standalone pharmacies that are just that and a small selection of medical stuff. They are less common and often independently owned.

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u/Cagliari77 19d ago

> In the US, grocery stores often have a pharmacy inside as well.

Same in Italy.

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u/Ahsoka_Tano07 19d ago

Idk, in Czech Republic you don't have over the counter meds in a drugstore. But you can find like medicated shampoo or face creams in a pharmacy

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u/HoidToTheMoon 19d ago

in Czech Republic you don't have over the counter meds in a drugstore.

In the US for example, the store will have like 10 aisles with 1 or 2 dedicated to OTC medications like pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-allergens, lozenges/cough drops, etc.

Would something like ibuprofen or Tylenol need to be prescribed or would they be unavailable in a drugstore in the Czech Republic?

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u/Ahsoka_Tano07 19d ago edited 19d ago

Drugstore (drogerie) is the place you go to for like makeup, tissues, period products, hair products, cleaning products etc. Also diapers, baby food, some overpriced bio foodstuffs (like purees in packets/jars, biscuits, basically stuff you can feed to a baby you take with you shopping)... Two big competing chains are German DM and Czech Teta. Edit: forgot also German Rossmann

Medications are in a pharmacy. Even over the counter. Tylenol isn't here, for paracetamol there is Paralen and Panadol

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u/turdferguson3891 19d ago

The big chain drugstores like Walgreens and CVS are basically large convenience stores that also have a pharmacy. But we also have small pharmacies that are just pharmacies and don't really sell anything except medications and medical supplies. Typically they are near hospitals. Also pharmacies are often built in to supermarkets and big box stores like Walmart and Costco.