counter items

[dilermando]

Debbie looks in a bag, pulls out a handful of various counter items.

What do "counter items" mean?

[David L.]

Sounds to me like a scenario in a pharmacy-type shop like CVS, or Walgreens, where 'counter items' are those items you can purchase without a prescription from a doctor.

Anyone else any ideas?

(In the UK, I think we are more likely to say, 'over-the-counter')