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.
Shopify considers vape, CBD, and adult products high-risk—even if they are legal in the UK.
Using Shopify Payments for restricted products can trigger instant checkout shutdowns and account suspension.
Many merchants are banned without warning due to policy violations, not legal infractions.
To stay compliant, use a high-risk Shopify gateway like Pay by Bank with age verification built in.
Building a compliance-first store setup helps prevent enforcement actions and protects your brand reputation.
“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:
Trigger
Shopify Response
Adding restricted products (e.g. vape, CBD)
Manual or automated risk review
Sudden spike in traffic or revenue
Payment provider audit
High chargeback rate
Platform risk reassessment
Using Shopify Payments with restricted products
Immediate checkout shutdown
Ignoring Shopify’s compliance requests
Full account suspension or deletion
Many of these actions happen without direct notice. Even legally compliant merchants can be flagged if platform rules are breached.
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.
Pay by Bank helps UK vape and CBD merchants stay compliant by using bank authentication instead of card networks—and verifying age automatically at checkout.
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
Lesson:
Being legally compliant is not enough on Shopify. If your payment setup violates Shopify Payments or Stripe policy—even unintentionally—your store can be shut down. The safest path is to use a high-risk gateway from day one.
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.
Worried About Getting Banned by Shopify?
Pay by Bank was built for high-risk merchants. No card networks. No chargebacks. No shutdowns.
Get compliant and stay online—without the fear of getting flagged.
This article explains why vape, CBD, and other high-risk stores are often banned from Shopify despite being legal in the UK. It outlines how to stay compliant using approved gateways like Pay by Bank and avoid shutdowns caused by Shopify Payments violations.
Yes, but you must use a high-risk payment gateway like Pay by Bank. Shopify Payments prohibits vape and CBD products under its Terms of Service.
What is a high-risk Shopify gateway?
A high-risk gateway is a third-party payment provider that supports regulated or restricted industries such as vape, CBD, and supplements. These gateways operate outside of Shopify Payments and are better suited for compliance.
Why does Shopify ban certain products if they’re legal in the UK?
Because Shopify Payments is powered by Stripe, which enforces its own global Acceptable Use Policy. This policy prohibits certain industries regardless of their local legality.
What happens if I use Shopify Payments for vape or CBD?
Your checkout may be disabled, payouts frozen, and your account suspended—even if you're legally compliant. This often happens without prior notice.
How can Pay by Bank help prevent shutdowns?
Pay by Bank avoids card networks entirely and uses bank authentication to verify users and their age. This makes it compliant and chargeback-proof, ideal for high-risk products on Shopify.
Do I need age verification to sell vape or CBD online?
Yes. UK law requires that all buyers of vape or CBD products be at least 18 years old. Shopify doesn’t offer this by default, but tools like Pay by Bank and age verification apps can help.
Can I advertise vape products if I use Pay by Bank?
Yes, but you must still follow platform rules (e.g., Google or Meta). Pay by Bank’s compliant checkout can reduce ad disapprovals tied to policy violations.
Can I recover from a Shopify suspension?
Possibly. Remove Shopify Payments, switch to a compliant gateway, and provide all requested documentation. But some bans are permanent, so prevention is safer.
Does being compliant with UK law guarantee I won’t get banned?
No. You must follow both local laws and Shopify’s platform and payment policies. Legal compliance alone is not enough.
Expert Note:
Written by a Wallid Content Intern specializing in regulated eCommerce markets. This article is part of Wallid’s compliance-first content series designed to help high-risk Shopify merchants launch and scale without risk of takedown.