Stopping Underage Sales: Guide on How Vape Websites Use Age Verification
Why do vape companies check the ages of their customers?
In the UK, it is illegal to sell nicotine products to those under the age of 18, so vape shops and online retailers must take measures to ensure they do not sell to those who are underage. Vape companies who have been found to be selling nicotine products to minors will face penalties from Trading Standards or even the Police.
Furthermore, it is not only Government laws that require companies to use age verification software. Online payment companies often require websites selling restricted products using their payment software to implement age verification measures in order to use their services.
These payment companies can withdraw their payment services from vape websites that don’t implement any age verification systems. This does have an unfortunate consequence for smaller vape retailers. If they cannot afford the expensive age verification systems, they may struggle to sell their products to law abiding adults.
How do vape companies verify the ages of their customers online?
Offline – Vape stores use the same Challenge 25 policies in place in most shops and supermarkets across Britain. Staff members have the right to refuse a sale if they suspect a person is unerage and to request to see ID to verify that the customer is over 18 before allowing the purchase. If ID can’t be provided, they will refuse the sale.
Online – Vape companies can use several methods to check the ages of their customers before they can make a purchase online. Most companies such as Eco-Vape use a two-tier age check verification system.
Firstly, they require users to voluntarily confirm that they are over 18 in order to access the website. This is an important part of the age verification system, even though this method can be circumvented by simply clicking ‘Yes’ when asked if they are over 18, or by selecting a false date of birth.
Yet by making customers voluntarily confirm they are over 18, any customer who is found to have falsely answered this question is therefore breaking the terms of service of the website, which provides the basis for the vape company to then pursue further measures against the customer who has fraudulently entered false information about their identity.
However, the second stage of age verification is far more robust. Here’s how it works.
What specific methods are used to check the ages of customers online?
The main age verification process occurs during the check out process.
When a customer enters their billing details during checkout, a third party age verification company will cross-reference these details against publicly available information (such as the electoral register) to validate that the user is indeed over 18.
Some age verification services can also allow the customer to verify their age with their banking app, by using facial recognition on their smartphone, or by uploading ID (which is done securely and using encryption to protect personal information and prevent data sharing).
If this process is successful, the purchase will be allowed. If this is unsuccessful, the order will be placed on hold and the company will get in touch with the customer to request they provide identification separately to confirm they are indeed over 18 before despatching the order. If this cannot be done, the order will be refused or refunded if applicable.
Are online age checks effective? How do they work?
In most cases, online age checks can be effective to prevent minors from purchasing restricted products.
By using modern identity check methods, such as using a banking app to confirm the identity of the user, they can even prevent sales of minors who have stolen an adults bank card details. However, online age checks cannot prevent an adult from making the purchase on behalf of a minor.
How much do age verification services cost to vape companies?
This depends on a number of factors, such as which age verification companies are used, the extent of the services used from that company and the volume of sales that vape company receives.
In general, age verification companies typically charge a standing fee (annual or monthly) for using the service, plus a one-time fee for each age verification required. In some cases, for larger companies this can run into thousands of pounds a month. This is clearly a great cost that vape companies have to bear in order to ensure they do not sell their products to minors.
However non-compliant retailers, rogue traders and those selling on the black market are not likely to enforce these measures. That means those who are most responsible for underage vape sales face no costs for verifying the ages of their customers, whilst compliant vape companies must nonetheless bear the vast costs of age verification.
Do age checks prevent underage vape sales?
Age checks vastly reduce the likelihood of underage sales online and in store, but this is only true with compliant companies willing to pay for these services.
However, age checks obviously cannot stop rogue traders and companies unwilling to pay for age verification services to prevent sales to minors. Not does it prevent minors from accessing vapes on the black market. Nor can they prevent adults from purchasing vapes on behalf of minors.
