Is Your Shopify Store Compliant with the Online Safety Act? (UK Checklist for 2025)

Name: Wallid Pay by Bank
Brand: Wallid

Pay-by-Bank / Blog / Is Your Shopify Store Compliant with the Online Safety Act?

With the Online Safety Act now in force, Shopify merchants selling age-restricted or regulated products must act fast to stay legal. This checklist shows you exactly what to do to comply — and how Wall ID helps make it simple.

Key Takeaways:

Age verification is now a legal requirement for adult, vape, and supplement products
Failure to comply can lead to fines, blocks, and Shopify account suspension
Wall ID provides built-in compliance tools for UK merchants
A compliant payment gateway is just as important as content moderation
Use this checklist to audit your store before issues arise

The Online Safety Act Compliance Checklist for Shopify UK Sellers

1. Identify If Your Products Are Regulated

Do you sell adult products, vapes, CBD, supplements, or anything with health claims?
Are any items age-restricted or flagged by card networks?

If yes, you must implement age checks and update your store policies.

2. Review Your Shopify Content and Listings

Avoid vague or aggressive health claims
Clearly display ingredients and disclaimers
Use neutral language (avoid words like “cure,” “boost,” or “enhance”)

3. Install Verified Age Checks

Government ID
Bank-based age confirmation
Facial verification (optional)

⚠️ Self-declared age (“I’m over 18”) is no longer accepted.

4. Use a Safe Payment Gateway

Card gateways may freeze payouts for regulated items
Use Wall ID’s Pay by Bank for instant, compliant payments
Built-in age verification at checkout
FCA-regulated and trusted by UK merchants

5. Keep Records and Monitor Access

Log verification attempts
Enable analytics to monitor underage access or bounce rate
Report suspicious activity to maintain compliance

Why This Matters: The Real-World Impact of Non-Compliance

Since the Online Safety Act went into full effect, UK regulators have cracked down on merchants selling age-restricted items without proper safeguards. This means:

Shopify Payments and PayPal have frozen merchant accounts over vague health claims or missing age gates
UK ISPs are blocking access to websites that don’t meet verification standards
Customers are increasingly aware of data privacy, and expect secure, transparent checkout experiences

Merchants who adapt early gain a compliance edge and avoid revenue disruption. Those who delay risk serious legal and financial consequences.

Why Wall ID Is the Simplest Compliance Upgrade

Wall ID helps you:

Add age checks at checkout — no separate app needed
Accept payments for adult, vape, or supplement products
Avoid card freezes, chargebacks, and flags
Stay compliant without hurting UX or sales

“We sell products that legally require age verification, and WallidPay was the perfect solution. It handles verification automatically and doesn’t interrupt the shopping experience.”

– Serena, Shopify Merchant

Speakable

Shopify merchants in the UK must follow new age verification rules under the Online Safety Act. Use this checklist to stay compliant. Wall ID offers a secure, FCA-regulated checkout with built-in age checks so you can sell regulated products safely and legally.Install Pay by Bank on Shopify.

FAQ

Do I need age checks for vape or supplement products?

Yes. Anything considered age-restricted under the Act must include a compliant age gate.

What happens if I don't comply with the Act?

Your store could be blocked in the UK or removed from Shopify.

Does Wall ID help with both payments and age verification?

Yes. Wall ID provides instant payments and built-in age checks in one streamlined app.

Can I use Wall ID alongside other apps or tools?

Yes. Wall ID integrates seamlessly with your existing Shopify setup and can work alongside age gate or compliance plugins.

Is the Online Safety Act enforced for small stores too?

Yes. Regardless of size, any store selling regulated or age-restricted products must comply or risk penalties.

About the Author

This article was created by the Wall ID team, specialists in UK e-commerce compliance for age-restricted and high-risk products. We help Shopify merchants stay ahead of regulations like the Online Safety Act by providing tools for age verification, content moderation, and secure payments.

Wall ID’s FCA-regulated Pay by Bank solution is built specifically for UK sellers of adult, vape, supplement, and CBD products — offering compliant checkout with no chargebacks, card freezes, or account flags. Learn more at wallid.co.