Drugstore chain DM starts selling pepper spray

One of Germany's largest drug stores has started selling pepper spray due to "increased requests" from customers.

Drugstore DM is a ubiquitous sight on high streets across Germany. Along with Rossmann it is one of the largest chain stores for toiletries and non-prescription treatments. But, besides toothpaste and shampoo, the chain has recently started selling what it describes as an "animal deterrent spray".

Tagesspiegel reports that the spray has been available online since 9th May and in shops since 23rd June 2016.

"There was an increase in requests from customers who wanted to purchase the spray at a convenient location," DM CEO Sebastian Bayer told Tagesspiegel. "We checked it out and decided to make the animal deterrent spray available in our stores." The response from customers has been "overwhelmingly positive", said Bayer.

But the fact that the spray is being sold in inner city stores has cast doubt on the idea that most customers are buying it to protection against animals. Since hundreds of sexual assaults were reported in Cologne and other cities over New Year, demand for forms of self-defence has increased sharply.

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