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It is illegal to buy drugs in the countries, though there are exceptions.

Does that sentence has the only one meaning? Does "exceptions" mean "it is legal action in other (non-mentioned) countries? Or does "exceptions" mean "it can be legal action in some areas in the (mentioned) countries? So, are "exceptions" connected with "It is illegal" or with "the countries"?

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    "though there are exceptions" is redundant, it's already implied by "most"...
    – Andrew Tobilko
    Jan 18, 2022 at 15:44
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    The whole sentence is unclear because it isn't illegal to buy drugs in any country that I know of. There are, however, many drugs which can only be obtained on the prescription of a medical practitioner, and it is illegal in most countries to buy such drugs without a prescription. And there are some drugs which can't even be prescribed. Perhaps the question would be clearer if it referred to a specific drug.
    – Weather Vane
    Jan 18, 2022 at 15:49
  • @Andrew Tobilko, You are right. I have done correction.
    – Sergei
    Jan 18, 2022 at 16:11
  • Are you asking for proofreading of a sentence you have written, or is a sentence you have seen somewhere? It makes even less sense since the edit. When many people talk about 'buying drugs' they usually mean 'illegal drugs' anyway.
    – Weather Vane
    Jan 18, 2022 at 16:35
  • [ I have made the correction; or; I corrected it.]
    – Lambie
    Jan 18, 2022 at 16:35

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Edit: This was an answer to the original question, which said "most countries" rather than "the countries".

The natural meaning is that there are some countries where it is not illegal; but there are other possible readings. Another one is that it is legal in some circumstances.

I think if a writer used it in anything other than the first sense they could reasonably be accused of writing unclearly.

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    In what circumstance would you use "in the countries", and not say "in some countries"?
    – Lambie
    Jan 18, 2022 at 16:34
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    The OP has edited in most countries to in the countries since I answered. In the countries unambiguously implies a specific set of countries, presumably identified previously.
    – Colin Fine
    Jan 18, 2022 at 16:47
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    That makes it worse for me. I don't see "in the countries"; in these countries, in those countries, in the countries listed below/above, but not just "in the countries".
    – Lambie
    Jan 18, 2022 at 17:02
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    @Lambie, I don't know why you're commenting about the OP's edit on my answer, which was addressed to the original version of the question.
    – Colin Fine
    Jan 18, 2022 at 17:06
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    Maybe you need to clarify that in your answer: in most countries, in some countries.
    – Lambie
    Jan 18, 2022 at 17:08

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