Selling air. Restricted?

[boomerang]

I was at Target today and, among other things, I bought a can of air to blow the dust out of my computer. That triggered the Point Of Sale to require the cashier to see my ID and enter my personal info before it would allow me to buy air.

Next time I think I'll borrow a friend's compressor.

P.S. I bought the can at a local store. I wasn't importing it from another State or foreign country.

[nitrogen]

Yes. Kids will huff it and get high, so that's why.

[troglodyte]

It's not air.

Wiki


"Gas duster, also known as canned air, is a product used to clean electronic equipment and other sensitive devices that cannot be cleaned using water. The can comes with a straw to direct the forceful wind that it can produce. The gases inside the can have been compressed to the point that they have become liquid, and they evaporate before leaving the can since the valve draws from the top (unlike most aerosol cans which have a straw that draws from the bottom of the can). Despite the name "canned air," the cans actually contain gases that are much easier to compress into liquids, such as difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, or tetrafluoroethane. Hydrocarbons, like butane, were often used in the past, but their flammability forced manufacturers to use fluorocarbons."

"Since gas dusters are one of the many inhalants that can be easily abused, many manufacturers have added a bittering agent to deter people from inhaling the product. Because of the generic name "canned air", some people mistakenly believe that the can only contains normal air or contains a less harmful substance such as nitrous oxide. However, the gases actually used are denser than air, and inhaling can lead to paralysis, serious injury, or death. Recently, in the United States and Canada stores have begun to ask for ID to verify if the customer is 18 years or older."

[boomerang]

Using a friends compressor instead sounds better and better.

[cougartex]

Using a friends compressor instead sounds better and better.

[TLE2]

Be careful of static generated by compressor. Otherwise, go for it. I'd rather show ID and buy a can of "air" than drag my compressor into the house.

[nitrogen]

Unless you know the air generated by your compressor is completely clean and static free, i'd avoid it for computer parts.

[Oldgringo]

Yes. Kids will huff it and get high, so that's why.

Give 'em a can and let them go out in the yard and blow their brains out - if they're that stupid. Good Grief!