Selling vape or CBD on Shopify in the UK? You might be fully legal—but still at risk of getting banned. Learn how to stay compliant, avoid common mistakes, and choose the right payment setup for long-term success.
“Our Shopify store was running fine—until we added a new CBD product. Suddenly, our payments froze, and we couldn’t process orders. No warning. We didn’t even break the law.” - Tom R., CBD and wellness store owner (UK)
This is more common than you might think. Many UK merchants assume that legal compliance is enough. But if you're using Shopify's default tools for a high-risk product, you're still exposed.
Why Legal Doesn’t Mean Safe on Shopify
Even if you're following UK law to the letter, Shopify has its own rules. The key issue? Shopify Payments is powered by Stripe, which bans a range of high-risk products, including:
- Vape and e-cigarette products
- CBD, hemp, and ingestible wellness items
- High-risk supplements or nootropics
- Adult products and content
Using Shopify Payments for these products is a violation of Stripe's Acceptable Use Policy. And Shopify, by extension, enforces that policy on all stores using their built-in gateway.
This means you can be doing everything "right" legally—but still face shutdowns just because of how your store is configured.
Enforcement Patterns: What Actually Happens
Based on reported merchant cases, here’s how Shopify typically handles high-risk policy violations:
These events can occur without direct communication. Many stores report being locked out of payments overnight with little explanation.
The High-Risk Store Trap
The most common mistake UK vape and CBD merchants make? Launching with Shopify Payments enabled by default.
It’s easy to overlook in setup. Shopify Payments appears to be the fastest, cheapest option. But as soon as you list a prohibited product, you risk:
- Payouts being frozen for up to 180 days
- Being permanently barred from reapplying
- Losing access to your customer checkout
- Having your Shopify store flagged by third-party platforms like Google or Meta
Once flagged, even switching gateways later may not fully reverse the damage. That’s why a compliance-first approach is crucial from day one.
How to Build a Compliance-First Shopify Store
Shopify lets you sell vape and CBD products in the UK. But you must structure your store correctly to avoid enforcement risks.
1. Use a High-Risk Shopify Gateway
Replace Shopify Payments with a gateway that:
- Accepts high-risk verticals like vape and CBD
- Understands UK and EU compliance frameworks
- Offers fraud prevention and dispute support
- Integrates with Shopify Checkout
Top Recommendation: Pay by Bank (Wallid)
- Uses bank authentication (no Visa/Mastercard friction)
- Verifies customer age via bank KYC
- Chargeback-proof by design
- Fully supported by Shopify Checkout Extensions
Other options include DigiPay and EasyPayDirect, but they often require manual setup and don’t offer seamless age verification.
2. Remove Risky Marketing & Store Elements
To reduce the chance of being flagged:
- Do not make medical or health claims ("treats anxiety," "safer than smoking")
- Avoid youth-oriented branding or imagery
- Place age disclaimers in your header, footer, and product pages
- Clearly publish Refund, Shipping, and Privacy policies
- Keep MHRA documentation available and organized
These steps don’t just help you pass audits—they build long-term trust with payment partners and regulators.
3. Prepare for Manual Reviews
If your store is reviewed by Shopify, Stripe, or a payment gateway:
- Be ready to share product certificates, ingredient lists, or MHRA IDs
- Offer screenshots of your policies and product pages
- Respond quickly to emails or requests for clarification
Think of it like a surprise audit: the more transparent and organized you are, the more likely your store will survive scrutiny.
Case Study: Vape Store Flagged for Payment Violation
A UK vape shop launched with:
- Verified products
- Legal packaging
- MHRA documentation
But they forgot to switch off Shopify Payments.
Three weeks later:
- Shopify Payments disabled
- An email citing "Terms of Service Violation" arrived
- £12,000 in pending payouts were held for 120 days
- Google Ads and Meta merchant accounts were suspended due to gateway flag
Why Pay by Bank Prevents This
Pay by Bank by Wallid is purpose-built for regulated merchants:
- UK vape and CBD friendly
- No card networks = no Stripe/Shopify Payment risk
- Age verification built into payment flow (bank KYC)
- No chargebacks—ever
- Modern Checkout Extension integration on Shopify
It’s not just a workaround—it’s the foundation of a safe, compliant checkout experience for high-risk stores.
