Age Verification Policy

At County Cookshops, we are committed to complying with UK laws regarding the sale of age-restricted products. This Age Verification Policy explains how we verify customer age to ensure that restricted products are sold only to eligible customers.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

Prevent the sale of age-restricted products to minors
Comply with UK legislation, including:
- Licensing Act 2003 (alcohol-related regulations)
- Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (general age restrictions)
- Other applicable UK laws on age-restricted goods
Promote responsible online shopping and ensure legal compliance

2. Age-Restricted Products

Age-restricted products may include, but are not limited to:

Certain kitchen and cooking products with safety risks
Products containing alcohol or related accessories (if applicable)
Other items restricted by UK law for age

All age-restricted products will be clearly labeled on the website.

3. Age Verification Process

County Cookshops uses the following measures to verify the age of customers:

Self-Certification at Checkout
- Customers must confirm their date of birth or affirm they meet the minimum age requirement before purchasing age-restricted items.
Document Verification (if required)
- For certain products, County Cookshops may request a valid form of identification to confirm age.
- Accepted forms of ID include:
  - Passport
  - Driver’s license
  - Government-issued identity card
Third-Party Verification Services
- We may use trusted third-party services to verify age securely and efficiently.

4. Refusal of Sale

County Cookshops reserves the right to refuse any order if:
- Age cannot be verified
- Suspicion arises that a customer is underage
Orders that are refused for age verification reasons will be cancelled and refunded where applicable.

5. Privacy and Data Handling

Any personal information provided for age verification is handled according to our Privacy Policy.
Identification documents or personal data used for age verification are securely stored, used solely for verification, and deleted promptly after verification is complete.

6. Compliance

County Cookshops ensures staff are trained in age verification practices and legal requirements.
We review and update procedures regularly to remain compliant with UK law.