Last updated: June 2026
Vape Desires UK sells nicotine-containing products. It is illegal to sell these products to anyone under the age of 18 in the United Kingdom. This page explains our age verification policy, how it works, and what happens when we cannot confirm a buyer's age.
Our Commitment
Vape Desires operates a strict 18+ policy across all orders, without exception. We do not rely on self-declaration alone. We use active age verification measures at checkout and during order fulfilment to ensure that nicotine products do not reach anyone under the legal age of purchase. Protecting young people from nicotine access is not a box-ticking exercise for us. It is a condition of operating responsibly in this market and we take it seriously.
The Legal Position
It is illegal to sell or supply nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, e-liquids, or vaping products to anyone under the age of 18 in England, Scotland, and Wales under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended, and subsequent legislation extend these protections and create criminal liability for retailers who fail to enforce them.
It is also illegal for an adult to purchase nicotine products on behalf of a person under 18 (known as a proxy purchase). We take proxy purchasing seriously and will cancel and refund any order where we have reasonable grounds to believe the product is intended for a minor.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, further strengthens the regulatory framework around nicotine product sales and marketing to young people. Vape Desires is fully compliant with the current provisions of this legislation.
How We Verify Age at Checkout
When you place an order at vapedesires.co.uk, you are required to confirm that you are 18 or over. This is a declaration, not a substitute for active verification. In addition to your declaration, we use the following measures:
• Automated age verification checks against publicly available data sources at the point of purchase, where applicable.
• Manual review of orders where automated checks cannot confirm age to our satisfaction.
• Challenge and cancellation of any order where we have reason to doubt the buyer is an adult, at our sole discretion.
• Delivery protocols that require the recipient to be present and, in cases where the courier operates age-check-on-delivery, to confirm their age at the point of delivery.
What Happens If We Cannot Verify Your Age
If we are unable to verify that you are aged 18 or over, we will cancel your order and issue a full refund. We will contact you by email to let you know. We do not retain payment from any order that we are unable to fulfil due to age verification failure.
We will not be drawn into correspondence challenging an age verification decision. If you believe an error has occurred, you are welcome to email us at hello@vapedesires.co.uk with supporting information. We review all such cases fairly.
Buying as a Gift
If you are purchasing from Vape Desires as a gift, you confirm that the intended recipient is aged 18 or over. We do not accept claims after delivery that a product was purchased for a minor. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel orders where there is any indication that the recipient may be under 18.
Reporting a Concern
If you have a concern about underage access to nicotine products, whether in relation to Vape Desires or any other retailer, you can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline at 0808 223 1133, or contact the MHRA directly at www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-problem-with-a-medicine-or-medical-device.
We take all safeguarding concerns seriously. If you believe a Vape Desires order has reached a minor, please email us immediately at hello@vapedesires.co.uk with as much detail as possible so we can investigate.
Under-18 Access to This Website
This website is intended for adults aged 18 and over. By using this site, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old. If you are under 18, please leave this site immediately. We make no apologies for being direct about this. These products are not for young people.
Review of This Policy
This policy is reviewed regularly in line with changes to UK legislation and regulatory guidance. The most current version will always be published at this URL. Any material change to our age verification approach will be noted with an updated review date at the top of this page.
For questions about this policy, contact us at hello@vapedesires.co.uk.