Many UK merchants are shocked to learn that selling vapes on Shopify isn’t as straightforward as adding products and checking out. Between payment gateway restrictions, age verification laws, and Shopify’s own policies, launching a compliant vape store requires careful setup. This guide breaks it all down.
You can sell vape products on Shopify UK, but not via Shopify Payments.
Vape sales are classified as high-risk and require a third-party payment gateway.
UK law mandates age verification for all vape customers—Shopify does not offer this by default.
Apps like Age Check Plus and ShopAge Verification are essential for compliance.
Pay by Bank (powered by Wallid) offers a compliant, chargeback-resistant payment option for vape sellers.
Is It Legal to Sell Vapes Online in the UK?
Yes, it is legal to sell vape products online in the UK—but with strict rules. These laws are designed to protect consumers, especially young people, and to ensure that products are sold responsibly. Vape sellers must follow the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR), which implement the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in the UK.
Here's what that means for your Shopify store:
Age restriction: You must verify that all customers are at least 18 years old before they can make a purchase. This is non-negotiable and legally enforced.
Packaging and labelling: Your product packaging must include clear health warnings, ingredients, and nicotine content. Mislabelled or unlabelled products can lead to legal penalties.
Advertising restrictions: You’re not allowed to make health claims (like “safer than cigarettes”) or target underage users through language, design, or social media.
While Shopify itself does not block the sale of vape products in the UK, the platform does not take responsibility for your store's compliance. That means the burden of following these laws—and proving it—falls on you. Make sure your store’s terms, product descriptions, and checkout experience reflect these legal obligations.
Why Selling Vapes on Shopify Isn’t Plug-and-Play
Even though Shopify is a flexible and beginner-friendly platform, it isn’t automatically set up to support regulated products like vapes. If you're planning to sell vape products, one of the first hurdles you’ll encounter is that you can’t use Shopify Payments, which is Shopify’s built-in gateway. Vape products fall under Shopify’s list of prohibited or high-risk items, which means your payment processing options are limited.
In practice, that means you’ll need to find and integrate a third-party payment processor—one that accepts vape sales and supports UK merchants. Onboarding with these processors is more involved, requiring documentation about your business, product legitimacy, refund policies, and more.
Also, because you’re in a high-risk category, your store may receive more scrutiny from both Shopify and your gateway. Failing to meet their standards could result in delays, declined payments, or full account suspension. That’s why planning your payment setup early is critical.
Best Vape Payment Processors for Shopify UK
Since Shopify Payments is off the table, the next step is choosing a vape-friendly third-party payment processor. These providers specialize in high-risk products and understand the extra compliance requirements that come with vape sales. In addition to traditional high-risk gateways, new alternatives like Pay by Bank, supported by Wallid, offer a secure, compliant, and chargeback-resistant method for processing payments—especially suitable for regulated industries like vape.
Pay by Bank offers a secure, low-fee, and chargeback-resistant solution for regulated industries like vape.
What to look for in a vape payment processor:
Compliance support: Your provider should understand UK laws and request documentation to help you stay compliant.
Chargeback protection: Vape products are more likely to be contested by banks, so look for gateways that offer dispute resolution tools or eliminate chargebacks entirely.
Ease of integration: Some platforms require developer help; others, like Wallid’s Pay by Bank, offer modern no-code Shopify integration.
Before integrating, get clarity on contract terms, monthly fees, rolling reserves, and any country-specific limitations.
Age Verification: A Legal Must
Every UK vape store must verify that buyers are at least 18 years old. This is a legal requirement under UK law and failing to comply can result in fines, store takedowns, and even criminal charges.
Unfortunately, Shopify does not provide built-in age verification tools. That means you need to install a third-party solution that adds age gates, ID checks, or verification at checkout.
Age Check Plus: Adds a popup age gate before users browse.
NA Age Verifier: Includes more advanced verification options, like birth date entry or ID upload.
ShopAge Verification: Affordable and easy to install, great for small stores.
You should also display age notices in your header, footer, and product descriptions for extra clarity. Not only is this a legal safeguard—it also shows visitors and regulators that you take compliance seriously.
How to Set Up Age Verification (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Choose an App
Pick one like Age Check Plus, NA Age Verifier, or ShopAge Verification. These apps are purpose-built for Shopify and are compliant with UK law.
Step 2: Install via Shopify
Head to the Shopify App Store, search for your chosen app, and click “Install App”. Follow the prompts to authorize the integration.
Step 3: Customize Your Settings
Choose your preferred age verification method (popup, ID upload, birthday input). Adjust content, colors, and placement to match your branding.
Step 4: Test Everything
Before launching, use a test browser or Shopify's preview mode to simulate a customer journey and confirm the verification works on mobile and desktop.
Other Legal Tips for Shopify Vape Stores
List ingredients and warnings clearly
Use clear refund and shipping policies
Avoid promoting health claims or targeting minors
Keep product images non-glamorized
Tips for Running a Compliant Vape Store on Shopify
Ensure age verification is active before purchase.
Don’t use glamorized imagery or health-related marketing language.
Display legal disclaimers and terms of service clearly.
Use approved nicotine concentrations and disclose ingredients.
Shopify Plus users may benefit from greater app flexibility and API access for complex compliance workflows.
Conclusion
Selling vapes on Shopify UK is absolutely possible—but only if you follow the right setup. Choose a vape-friendly payment processor, implement age verification, and make sure your store respects all local regulations.
With the right tech and legal alignment, your store can operate securely and scale with confidence.
Speakable Summary
This article breaks down how UK vape merchants can legally sell on Shopify by using third-party payment gateways, age verification tools, and compliant checkout flows like Wallid’s Pay by Bank.
FAQ
Can I sell vapes on Shopify in the UK?
Yes, but not through Shopify Payments. You must use a third-party, vape-friendly gateway and comply with UK law.
Why is Shopify Payments not allowed for vape products?
Shopify classifies vape products as high-risk, and their in-house gateway doesn’t support such transactions due to liability and regulation.
What payment gateways work for vape sales on Shopify?
DigiPay, EasyPayDirect, Authorize.Net, and Wallid’s Pay by Bank are reliable options that support regulated products like vapes.
Do I legally need age verification in the UK?
Yes. All online vape sellers must verify that customers are 18 or older before allowing them to purchase.
Which apps can I use for age verification on Shopify?
Popular choices include Age Check Plus, NA Age Verifier, and ShopAge Verification—all of which are easy to install.
Is Shopify Plus a better option for vape sellers?
Yes. Shopify Plus offers advanced customization and API access, which helps if you need deeper compliance workflows.
Can I advertise vape products on Shopify?
Yes, but your ads must not target minors or make health claims. Use age-restricted platforms and language cautiously.
What are the risks of skipping compliance?
You could face account suspension, chargebacks, legal penalties, or even permanent bans from Shopify and payment processors.
Expert Note:
Written by a Wallid Content Intern focused on regulated eCommerce categories and high-risk checkout flows. This article is part of Wallid’s knowledge base on compliant payment solutions, including Pay by Bank for vape, CBD, and other restricted Shopify verticals.
Selling Vape Products on Shopify?
Wallid’s Pay by Bank is a compliant, chargeback-resistant payment method built for regulated industries like vape. No credit card hassles. No merchant shutdowns.