Starting July 2025, age verification isn’t optional—it’s the law. Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, any Shopify store selling age-restricted products—such as vapes, alcohol, or adult items—must verify a customer’s age before site access or checkout.
Non-compliance can lead to fines up to £18 million, store takedowns, or even ISP blocks.
For merchants in high-risk categories, it’s critical to understand how legal age verification works—and why Wall ID is the easiest way to stay compliant.
Non-compliance can lead to fines up to £18 million, store takedowns, or even ISP blocks.
For merchants in high-risk categories, it’s critical to understand how legal age verification works—and why Wall ID is the easiest way to stay compliant.
What Counts as Age-Restricted Content?
The law applies to any product or service requiring customers to be 18+ under UK law, including:
If you sell any of the above, age verification is mandatory before checkout—or even before the visitor can browse your store.
- Vapes or nicotine products
- Alcohol (including gift boxes)
- Adult toys, services, and content
- Supplements with sexual health claims
- Weapons, knives, or similar items
If you sell any of the above, age verification is mandatory before checkout—or even before the visitor can browse your store.
Why Simple Disclaimers Don’t Count Anymore
“I confirm I’m 18+” checkboxes no longer meet the legal threshold. The UK government now requires robust age verification, including:
Failure to use one of these methods is considered non-compliant—and Shopify doesn’t provide these tools by default.
- Uploading a government-issued ID
- Verifying via a banking app (e.g. bank-based age confirmation)
- Biometric facial scans cross-checked with ID
Failure to use one of these methods is considered non-compliant—and Shopify doesn’t provide these tools by default.
Why Wall ID Simplifies Age-Restricted Checkout
Wall ID is the only Shopify-integrated payment app designed for age-restricted businesses. It solves two major problems in one:
Whether you sell vapes, adult items, alcohol, or regulated supplements, Wall ID ensures customers are legally verified and your revenue arrives instantly—without card fraud, chargebacks, or payment blocklists.
- Secure age verification before checkout
- FCA-regulated Pay by Bank payment with instant settlement
Whether you sell vapes, adult items, alcohol, or regulated supplements, Wall ID ensures customers are legally verified and your revenue arrives instantly—without card fraud, chargebacks, or payment blocklists.
Shopify Age Verification Options (2025)
Speakable
UK law now requires Shopify stores selling vapes, alcohol, or adult content to verify age using real tools—not checkboxes.
Wall ID makes it simple: built-in age verification plus fast, secure Pay by Bank checkout.
Want to get compliant? Install Wall ID on Shopify now.
Wall ID makes it simple: built-in age verification plus fast, secure Pay by Bank checkout.
Want to get compliant? Install Wall ID on Shopify now.
