You must be 18 or over to buy anything from Vape Superstore UK. We sell age restricted products and we take that seriously, both because the law requires it and because these products are for adult smokers and existing nicotine users, not for young people.

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What UK law requires

It is illegal to sell nicotine containing vaping products to anyone under 18 in the United Kingdom. It is also illegal for an adult to buy them on behalf of someone under 18, an offence usually called proxy purchasing.

Retailers are expected to operate robust age verification, and online sellers are expected to verify at the point of sale rather than relying on a tick box. Penalties for non compliance include substantial fines and, for repeat offences, prosecution.

The rules sit alongside the wider framework covering these products, set out in the MHRA guidance on e cigarette regulations.

How we verify your age

There are three stages, and an order has to pass all of them.

On arrival. You are asked to confirm you are 18 or over before browsing. This is a first filter rather than a verification step and we do not treat it as proof of anything.

At checkout. We run an electronic age verification check against the details you provide. This is the substantive step and it happens before payment is completed.

On delivery. Our couriers may request photographic identification at the door, particularly where the electronic check returned an incomplete result.

Age checks on delivery

Someone aged 18 or over must be present to accept the parcel. Age restricted orders are not left in a safe place, in a porch or with a neighbour by default.

If nobody eligible is available the courier will not leave the parcel. They will attempt redelivery or leave a card with collection instructions.

If you have standing delivery preferences with a courier that would normally allow a parcel to be left unattended, those preferences do not override the age check on this type of order.

Acceptable identification

Where identification is requested, the following are accepted:

  • A valid passport
  • A UK photocard driving licence, full or provisional
  • A PASS accredited proof of age card, such as a Citizencard or Validate card
  • A national identity card issued by an EEA state

Photographs of documents, expired documents and student cards are not accepted. The document must be the original and the name should match the order.

Buying for someone under 18

Do not do it. Proxy purchasing is a criminal offence in the UK, and it is the route by which most young people obtain these products.

If we have reasonable grounds to believe an order is intended for someone under 18 we will cancel it and refund the payment. We may decline to accept future orders from that account or address.

When we refuse an order

We will cancel and refund an order where the electronic age check cannot confirm you are 18 or over and you are unable to provide identification, where the details supplied appear false, where we believe the order is a proxy purchase, or where a courier is refused identification at the door.

Refusal is not a judgment about you personally. If a check fails and you are over 18, contact us and we will usually be able to resolve it manually.

What we do with verification data

We collect only what is needed to confirm you are old enough to buy, and we retain confirmation of the result rather than building a profile from it.

Couriers check identification visually at the door. They do not photograph or record the document. Full detail of what we hold, why, and for how long is in our privacy policy.

Information for parents

If you are concerned about a young person vaping, the most useful thing to know is that most under 18s obtain products from other young people or through proxy purchase rather than directly from compliant retailers.

NHS guidance on quitting covers nicotine dependence, and NHS Better Health lists local support services. Schools and local authority public health teams can also advise.

Nicotine is addictive and these products are not suitable for anyone who does not already use nicotine.

Reporting a concern

If you believe someone has ordered from us on behalf of a person under 18, or that an age check has been circumvented, email Info@vapesuperstoreuk.co.uk. We investigate every report and will block accounts where appropriate.

You can also raise concerns about any retailer with your local Trading Standards service.

Age verification FAQs

How old do I have to be to buy from Vape Superstore UK?

18 or over. There are no exceptions and we verify at checkout as well as at the door.

Why was my age check declined when I am over 18?

Electronic checks work against public records and can fail if you have recently moved or are not on the electoral roll. Contact us and we can usually resolve it manually.

Will the courier ask for ID?

They may. Someone 18 or over must be present to accept an age restricted parcel, and it will not be left unattended.

Can I have my parcel left in a safe place?

Not for age restricted items. The parcel has to be handed to someone eligible to receive it.

Is it illegal to buy a vape for someone under 18?

Yes. Proxy purchasing of nicotine products for under 18s is a criminal offence in the UK.

Do you keep a copy of my ID?

No. Couriers check documents visually and do not record them. We retain confirmation that a check passed, not the document itself.