Overview
In the UK, selling age-restricted products like alcohol, knives, vapes, or adult items online means your Shopify store must verify customer age before checkout. But while most merchants rely on paid apps or popups, a simpler solution now exists.
Wallid’s Pay-by-Bank includes built-in age verification —no plugins or extra setup needed.
What UK Products Require Age Verification?
According to UK law, you must verify customer age before selling:
- Alcohol (must be 18+)
- Knives and blades (18+)
- Vapes, tobacco, and e-cigarettes (18+)
- Adult content and products (18+)
- Fireworks (18+)
- Lottery and gaming (16+ or 18+, depending on category)
Failing to verify age can result in:
- Trading Standards investigations
- Financial penalties
- Store bans or platform takedowns
- Reputational damage
Shopify & Age Verification: What's the Gap?
Shopify does not offer built-in age verification tools. To remain compliant in the UK, most merchants:
- Install third-party age verification popups
- Use manual ID checks (often unreliable or labor-intensive)
- Accept the risk of fines or shutdowns
But there’s a better way.
Built-In Age Verification Payment & Checkout for Shopify (UK)
Wallid Pay-by-Bank is the Shopify payment method that verifies customer age during checkout—automatically and at no extra cost.
How it works:
- Uses bank-verified identity through open banking
- Blocks underage users based on date of birth
- No popup, no customer input—fully invisible to the buyer
- Requires no third-party app or additional verification flow
Why Age Verification Matters in the UK
UK regulators like Trading Standards actively investigate and fine online sellers of age-restricted products who do not take “all reasonable precautions” to prevent sales to minors. Passive tools like yes/no popups may not be enough.
With Pay-by-Bank age is verified against a customer’s real bank account profile.
Products That Benefit Most from Pay-by-Bank Verification
- Shopify alcohol stores
- Vape & e-cigarette shops
- Adult wellness or lingerie brands
- Collectibles and weapon replica sellers
- Subscription boxes with age limits
How to Enable Built-In Age Verification with Pay-by-Bank
- Install the Wallid Pay-by-Bank app on your Shopify store
- Setup age verification in the app settings (default is 18+)
- Add Pay-by-Bank as a payment option
- You’re done
Other Options for Shopify UK Stores
If you don’t use Wallid Pay-by-Bank, you’ll need to rely on apps:
Benefits of Using Pay-by-Bank for Age-Restricted Shopify Stores
- No extra monthly fees
- Invisible to the customer—frictionless
- Works for all restricted products
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult UK legal counsel or Trading Standards for compliance obligations specific to your business.
Conclusion
UK law makes age verification mandatory for many product categories on Shopify. Instead of relying on costly apps or risky manual checks, UK merchants can now use Wallid Pay-by-Bank to verify customer age automatically and securely—right at checkout.
FAQ – Age Verification for Shopify UK Stores
1. Is age verification legally required for Shopify stores in the UK?
Yes. UK law mandates age checks for products like alcohol, vapes, knives, and adult items. Selling without proper verification can lead to penalties or Trading Standards enforcement.
2. Does Shopify offer age verification out of the box?
No. Shopify does not include any built-in age verification tools. Merchants must use third-party apps or integrated solutions like Pay-by-Bank to stay compliant.
3. How does Pay-by-Bank handle age verification?
Wallid Pay-by-Bank verifies customer age using secure, bank-verified identity. It checks the buyer’s date of birth during the payment process—automatically and invisibly.
4. Is Pay-by-Bank age verification compliant with UK Trading Standards?
Yes. It meets the UK legal requirement of taking “all reasonable steps” to prevent underage sales by validating against verified bank data.
5. Do I need to install a separate app for age verification with Pay-by-Bank?
No. Age verification is built into Wallid Pay-by-Bank at no extra cost. No popups, no plugins, and no manual input from customers are required.
6. What happens if a customer under 18 tries to pay with Pay-by-Bank?
The transaction is automatically blocked if the customer’s bank-verified age is below the set limit (e.g. 18+).
7. Can I still use other payment methods with Pay-by-Bank enabled?
Yes. You can offer Pay-by-Bank alongside Shopify Payments, PayPal, or other gateways. Just ensure you apply age verification elsewhere if needed.
8. Is Pay-by-Bank suitable for all types of restricted products?
Yes. It works for alcohol, vape shops, adult wellness brands, knives, and more—any product category that requires age checks under UK law.
9. Does this affect digital or physical products differently?
No. Whether you’re selling physical goods or digital downloads, UK law still requires age verification. Pay-by-Bank works for both.
10. Is this feature available outside the UK?
Currently, Wallid’s age verification is designed specifically for UK markets and legal frameworks.
