Some Shopify stores have products that can only be purchased by customers of a certain age. For those cases, we have AUthro, an Age Gate product to add to your store that asks visitors to confirm their age in order to access your shop or products that are restricted from minors.
The most user-friendly way to ask your site visitors to confirm their age is with an Age Verification Popup when they first visit the site. If your store sells or will sell alcohol or tobacco, this popup is the quickest and easiest way to get your age verification system set up.
Shopify merchants do not have to develop a confirmation page from scratch. Building an Age Verification system is as simple as installing an app.
In this article we aim to cover how an age verification system works and how to implement one on Shopify with more advanced features and review how other merchants have implemented a system. Finally, we will cover some common mistakes merchants make so that you can be more successful.
What Is an Age Gate?
An Age Gate is a website feature that asks visitors to confirm whether they meet a specific age requirement before accessing a website or certain content.
A typical popup might ask a visitor if they are old enough to enter the store. The visitor can then select an option such as “Yes, I am of legal age” or “No.”
The purpose is to make the store’s age requirements clear before visitors continue browsing.
However, merchants should understand that an age confirmation popup does not automatically guarantee legal compliance. Requirements can vary depending on the products being sold and the location of the business and customers.
Why Does Age Verification Matter?
Age Verification could be beneficial to e-commerce stores that sell products with age restrictions.
One example could be an online liquor store where the customer has to verify their age before they can view the products. Similar age checks could be necessary in other markets.
It’s important for merchants to familiarize themselves with laws that apply to the products they sell and the markets they sell to, before they add an age verification system to their stores.
How Does Age Verification Online Work?
The principle behind verifying a customer’s age online is simple. A store’s pop-up appears upon a customer visiting the store. The customer verifies their age.
The customer has the option to answer whether they meet the age requirement. Based on the system, a store can recall the customer’s answer for some period.
Most systems are simple and can be used as a prompt for a customer to verify their age. Some systems can be used as a prompt to verify a customer’s age and include a system to collect the customer’s date of birth, and/or to conduct an external age verification check.
From our perspective, a basic verification pop-up is an easier age verification system. A more advanced system can be used when verification is more important and can include additional information.
How to Add an Age Verification Popup to Shopify
Adding an age check to Shopify can be relatively straightforward when using an app.
Step 1: Determine Your Age Requirement
Why does your shop need an age check and what minimum age are you looking for?
You should not copy and paste age requirements from other sites. The correct requirement will vary depending on the products you sell, where you do business and the law.
Step 2: Choose an Age Verification App
Search the Shopify App Store for an Age Verification App that matches your requirements.
Check its features, pricing, reviews, customization options, and compatibility with your Shopify theme.
A good age verification app shopify merchants use should make it easy to configure the popup without requiring extensive coding.
Step 3: Install and Configure the App
After you select your app, follow the instructions to install it in your Shopify store.
Depending on the app, you may have settings for the minimum age, how the message appears and what message you can customize, whether you have a button, background color, other colors, how the popup displays, etc.
Step 4: Customize the Popup
The design should coordinate with your shop’s appearance.
Use simple and easy to read text and button design. Avoid adding things that make the confirmation screen messy.
For example, a shop could ask:
“Are you of legal age to enter this store?”
Your popup buttons should be easy to understand.
Step 5: Test the Store
This part is important.
Open your store in a private browser and check if the popup displays correctly. Check both answers and make sure the expected visitor flow is working.
You should test your popup on mobile devices as well because the majority of Shopify customers access shops from their mobile phones.
What Should an Age Verification Popup Include?
A good Age Verification Popup should explain what the visitor needs to confirm without making the process complicated.
It should normally include:
- A short explanation of the age requirement
- A clear confirmation question
- Easy to understand buttons
- A suitable design for desktop and mobile
- An appropriate action for visitors who do not meet the requirement
The wording should be direct. Visitors should understand the purpose of the popup immediately.
Choosing the Right Age Verification Software
When comparing age verification software, do not focus only on the popup’s appearance.
Look at the features that matter to your store.
Customization
The software should ideally let you customize the message and appearance so the popup fits your website.
Mobile Support
The popups need to be mobile friendly. This means buttons need to be big enough to touch and text needs to be big enough to read.
Visitor Settings
Some solutions offer a way for merchants to set a limit on how frequently the popups displays or solutions that remember the visitor’s answer.
Privacy
If a solution collects personal information, understand what information it collects and how that data is handled.
For a simple confirmation system, collecting unnecessary information may not be appropriate.
Can You Verify My Age Automatically?
Most of the Shopify merchants search for free age verification systems to reduce the costs of their business.
Free options are acceptable for businesses who only want a confirmation pop-up. But free options may not be good for businesses who want more control over display, customization, and support.
Evaluate your store’s needs more than pricing and only then pick a solution.
Is Free Age Verification Suitable?
Most of the Shopify merchants search for free age verification systems to reduce the costs of their business.
Free options are acceptable for businesses who only want a confirmation pop-up. But free options may not be good for businesses who want more control over display, customization, and support.
Evaluate your store’s needs more than pricing and only then pick a solution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are a few mistakes Shopify merchants should avoid when setting up an age check.
Using an Incorrect Age Requirement
Make sure the selected age requirement is appropriate for your products and target market.
Making the Popup Too Complicated
Visitors should be able to understand the question quickly. Avoid unnecessary fields and long explanations.
Ignoring Mobile Users
Always check how the popup looks and functions on smaller screens.
Assuming a Popup Guarantees Compliance
An Age Gate is a website feature, not a universal legal solution. Businesses should understand their own obligations and use the appropriate measures for their products.
A Simple Approach for Shopify Merchants
For merchants who do not want to build a custom solution, an age verification app shopify store owners can install may provide a practical alternative.
The right app can simplify the setup process and give merchants control over the popup’s appearance and behavior.
Vennzo builds practical Shopify apps that help merchants address specific ecommerce needs, including adding an age confirmation experience to their storefront.
Before publishing the feature, test it across different devices and browsers. Check the wording, buttons, visitor behavior, and overall shopping experience.
Conclusion
Adding an Age Gate can be a useful step for Shopify stores that sell age restricted products or content. A well configured popup can clearly communicate the store’s requirements before visitors continue browsing.
The best approach depends on your products, customers, location, and legal obligations. A simple confirmation may be enough for some businesses, while others may require a stronger verification method.
If you decide to add an age check, choose a suitable Shopify solution, configure the required age, customize the popup, and test the complete visitor experience before making it live.
An Age Gate should be clear, easy to use, mobile friendly, and appropriate for the needs of your Shopify store.