Shopify doesn’t ban vape or CBD outright—but enforcement is real. If your store is flagged as high-risk, your payouts may be frozen or your account suspended. This guide explains how to avoid that fate.
We’ll walk you through how Shopify enforces its rules, what it looks for in risky stores, and what UK vape and CBD merchants can do to stay compliant and operational.
We’ll walk you through how Shopify enforces its rules, what it looks for in risky stores, and what UK vape and CBD merchants can do to stay compliant and operational.
Why Are Vape and CBD Stores Considered “High-Risk” by Shopify?
Shopify classifies certain industries as "high-risk" due to the potential for regulatory complications, chargebacks, or reputational damage. Vape and CBD fall into this group because of their association with:
- Strict legal regulation around age verification and product ingredients
- High rates of chargebacks due to unclear returns, disputes, or misuse
- Advertising restrictions, especially when targeting health-conscious or youth demographics
Even though selling vape and CBD products is legal in the UK, Shopify applies additional scrutiny to these verticals. That means every store in this category is subject to platform monitoring and can be penalized if it appears non-compliant.
The biggest triggers include:
- Using Shopify Payments, which explicitly prohibits vape and CBD products
- Lack of visible compliance measures, like age verification or MHRA documentation
- Marketing language or product imagery that appears glamorized, misleading, or unsafe
A Real Case: Why “The Mist Vault” Got Suspended
“We launched our UK vape store on Shopify thinking we were compliant. We even got our first sales. But 3 weeks later, we were shut down without warning. Turns out we were using Shopify Payments and didn’t have our MHRA certs linked on the site.”
— Anonymous founder, The Mist Vault (UK)
This story is more common than you’d think. Many merchants assume that if Shopify lets you build a store, then your business is automatically approved. Unfortunately, that's not how Shopify works.
Behind the scenes, Shopify has a Risk & Compliance team that routinely audits high-risk categories. If your store is live but uses the wrong gateway or lacks regulatory proof, it may be flagged manually or through automated detection.
How Shopify Flags High-Risk Stores
Shopify uses a mix of automated detection tools and human reviewers to identify stores that may pose a regulatory or financial risk. Here are some of the most common triggers that can cause a store to be investigated or shut down:
Each of these triggers is a red flag for Shopify's internal risk system. A combination of them can almost guarantee a negative enforcement action.
Use a High-Risk Shopify Gateway (The Right Way)
If you're selling regulated products, one of the smartest things you can do is use a payment gateway that understands your industry. These are known as high-risk-friendly gateways because they are set up to support vape, CBD, supplements, alcohol, and other regulated goods.
What to look for in a high-risk gateway:
- Category acceptance: Does it openly support vape/CBD transactions?
- Compliance support: Can you submit MHRA certificates and legal documents?
- Integration ease: Does it work smoothly with Shopify without needing custom code?
- Dispute risk: Does the processor offer chargeback protection or eliminate disputes entirely?
Using the right gateway also tells Shopify that you take compliance seriously. It’s a clear sign to their platform that your store is set up to follow the rules.
Why Pay by Bank Works for High-Risk Stores
Pay by Bank is a new payment method that works through direct bank transfers instead of traditional card networks. It’s designed for regulated industries that need high security and low dispute risk.
Here’s why it’s ideal for vape and CBD stores:
- Zero chargebacks: Once a customer pays through their bank app, the transaction is final.
- No dependency on Stripe, PayPal, or Shopify Payments: You're safe from unexpected bans.
- Accepts high-risk categories: Vape, CBD, and age-restricted products are all supported.
- Fast Shopify integration: Easily connect via Checkout Extension with no complex dev work.
By using Pay by Bank, you sidestep many of the issues that get Shopify stores suspended. You’re also improving customer trust and reducing operational costs.
Compliance-First Checklist to Avoid Bans
Here’s a simple checklist to keep your Shopify vape or CBD store safe:
- Avoid Shopify Payments — use a high-risk-friendly gateway from day one
- Install age verification tools — apps like AgeChecked or ShopAge help you stay legal
- Publish MHRA compliance — include links or language showing product notification
- Use proper packaging descriptions — don’t show glamorized or youth-oriented content
- Add all required policies — refund, shipping, and age disclaimers in footer and product pages
- Stay away from health claims — no "safer than smoking" or "improves wellness" promises
- Monitor transaction volume — sudden spikes can look like fraud if not explained
These are small but powerful steps that show Shopify and any third-party gateway that your business is legitimate and compliant.
