Identification Now Needed to Purchase Certain Caustic Cleaners

“Honey, we have a clogged drain. I am going to buy some drain cleaner.”

Not so fast. Do you have identification?

Since Jan. 1, anyone who purchases products containing sodium hydroxide, or lye, and other corrosive chemicals in Illinois has to provide a government-issued photo ID that contains the customer’s name, address and date of birth. A store clerk or cashier then has to log that name and address, along with the date and time of the transaction, and the brand, product name and net weight of the item.

The law also limits the amount a person may purchase within a 24-hour period. Professional plumbers are exempt.

Both houses of the Illinois General Assembly unanimously passed House Bill 2193 in May and Gov. Pat Quinn signed it into law in August. The impetus of the law came from reports in 2008 of two Illinois women being burned by acid attacks. However, one of the cases was deemed to be a hoax when the woman involved later admitted to burning herself with acid, according to WSIL-TV.

The new law covers products containing substances regulated by the Federal Caustic Poison Act and product labels that read "causes severe burns."

Lawmakers did not specify a list of brand names that are affected, However, the Illinois Food Retailers Association told The Times in Central Illinois that products affected by the new law include Drano Crystals, SnoBol Liquid Bowl Cleaner, The Works Drain Opener, KaBoom Bowl Blaster Toilet Cleaner and Vam-Sol High Acid Bowl Cleanse.

Consumers may no longer find their favorite cleaner at Jewel-Osco. External Communications Manager Karen May told Patch: “We have made a slight adjustment to our product offerings so that the items currently sold in our stores are not impacted by the new law.”

May said the company declines to name specific brands.

Batteries are exempt from the law. Read the full public act here.

Violation of the law are considered a business offense. A business caught not maintaining a registry will be fined $150 for its first violation, $500 for the second violation and $1,500 for any subsequent violations within a 12-month period.

The law specifically prohibits home rule units of government, including Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, St. Charles and Wheaton, from enacting lesser regulations.