Selling vape products on Shopify in the UK? You must legally verify every customer is 18+. Here's how to stay compliant while keeping your checkout friction-free.
UK law requires all online vape stores to verify that customers are 18+ before completing a purchase.
Most age verification tools use popups or manual checks that create friction and reduce conversions.
Pay by Bank verifies age automatically using trusted bank data—no popups or user input required.
Using bank-based age verification helps you comply with the law while optimizing mobile checkout flow.
WalliD offers seamless Pay by Bank integration for Shopify through a native Checkout Extension.
Why Age Verification Is Required for Shopify Vape Stores in the UK
Under UK law, it's illegal to sell vape products to anyone under 18. This includes all nicotine-containing products and even some accessories. If you're running a Shopify vape store, you're required to:
Prevent underage users from completing a purchase
Use an active method of verification (not just a checkbox)
Prove you took reasonable steps to comply
"When we launched our Shopify vape store, we didn’t realize how strict the age laws were. Switching to Pay by Bank gave us legal peace of mind, and our conversion rate went up." - James M., Shopify merchant from Manchester
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
Not verifying customer age can lead to:
Regulatory fines and product takedowns
Loss of merchant accounts or payment gateway bans
Store shutdowns under Shopify's acceptable use policy
Bottom line: If you're not actively verifying age, you're putting your store and business at risk.
Common Age Verification Methods (And Why They Fall Short)
Many Shopify vape merchants try to stay compliant using basic third-party apps or manual ID checks. But these solutions often create friction that drives shoppers away.
Popup-Based Apps (e.g., AgeChecked, NA Age Verifier)
These tools show a popup asking users to confirm their age or enter a birthdate. They may satisfy compliance, but they come with tradeoffs:
High bounce rates on mobile devices
Easy to bypass by entering a fake date
Adds friction at the beginning of the user journey
Manual ID Uploads
Some stores ask customers to upload a photo of their ID before checkout. This provides strong legal proof, but:
It's time-consuming for the customer
It slows down fulfillment
It can raise data privacy concerns
Neither approach offers a great customer experience — and both can hurt conversions.
Pay by Bank: Seamless Age Verification Through Trusted Bank Data
Pay by Bank solves this problem by verifying age behind the scenes, using information already verified by the customer’s UK bank.
How It Works:
The customer selects Pay by Bank at checkout.
They log into their banking app to approve the payment.
WalliD's system checks the customer's verified age from the bank.
Only customers 18+ can complete the transaction.
This method is:
Invisible to the user (no popups or extra steps)
Secure, using bank-level identity verification
Compliant with UK law and Shopify's requirements
Conversion-friendly, especially for mobile users
It’s the best of both worlds: legal compliance without customer friction.
Pay by Bank verifies customer age through their UK bank data—making compliance seamless, invisible, and conversion-friendly.
If you're in the vape industry, you know the value of simplifying checkout. Pay by Bank makes age verification something your customers never even see — and that's the point.
Age Verification Doesn’t Have to Hurt Your Checkout
WalliD’s Pay by Bank verifies customers are 18+ using bank data — no popups, no uploads, no drop-offs. Stay compliant and convert more.
UK vape merchants on Shopify must verify that customers are over 18. This article explains how Pay by Bank uses bank-verified age data to enforce compliance invisibly—no popups, no friction, just legal checkout.
FAQ
Is age verification legally required for vape sales in the UK?
Yes. UK law requires all online vape retailers to verify that customers are 18+ before completing a sale. This applies to nicotine products and many accessories.
Does Shopify provide built-in age verification?
No. Shopify does not include native age verification. Store owners must use third-party apps or integrate a compliant solution like Pay by Bank.
Are popup age gates enough to stay compliant?
Not always. While some popup apps may technically meet the minimum legal threshold, they are easy to bypass and often hurt mobile conversion.
What is Pay by Bank and how does it verify age?
Pay by Bank is a checkout method that uses the customer’s UK bank account to verify age during payment—no popups, ID uploads, or manual checks required.
Is bank-based age verification legally accepted?
Yes. UK banks confirm customer identity and age when accounts are created. Using this verified data meets the legal requirement for 18+ age checks at checkout.
How do I install Pay by Bank on Shopify?
You can integrate Pay by Bank using WalliD’s Checkout Extension, which is fully compatible with Shopify and requires no custom development.
Is Pay by Bank secure for e-commerce?
Yes. Pay by Bank complies with PSD2 and SCA regulations and uses bank-level encryption to securely process payments and identity checks.
Does this work with other high-risk products?
Absolutely. Pay by Bank is ideal for other restricted categories like CBD, nootropics, supplements, and adult products where age verification is needed.
What if I skip age verification altogether?
Skipping age checks puts you at risk of legal fines, merchant account bans, and takedowns under Shopify's terms of service. It’s not worth the risk.
Will this help improve my conversion rate?
Yes. Because Pay by Bank verifies age invisibly without disrupting checkout, merchants typically see higher completion rates—especially on mobile.
Expert Note:
Written by a WalliD Content Intern focused on regulated eCommerce and frictionless compliance. This article is part of WalliD’s initiative to help Shopify merchants meet legal requirements without sacrificing checkout performance.