The nationwide survey, conducted by identity management company GB Group, found that 46 per cent of teenage boys under 18 in Scotland have tried to buy adult DVDs or violent video games online in the past year, of which nearly three quarters were successful.

The survey also found that one in twenty Scottish teenagers have been able to buy dangerous objects such as knives online, and more than a third have bought items online using someone else’s credit card.

The findings come as Westminster prepares to hear the second reading of the Online Purchasing of Goods and Services (Age Verification) Bill.

Richard Law, GB Group’s CEO, said: “The research from Scotland shows there is an urgent need for online retailers to take a more responsible approach to protecting youngsters from buying inappropriate goods online.

“Under-age binge drinking is a huge problem, for example, yet many online retailers still don’t have any form of robust age verification system in place. And it’s even possible for young people to successfully buy knives online without having to undergo any age or ID check.

“Online businesses need to recognise the recent developments that have been made in verifying age and identity – it is now possible to take a risk-based approach to verifying customer identity, starting with those customer groups and products that may pose the highest risks.”