Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 19, 2026

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how The Beer Connoisseur^® collects, uses, discloses, and protects information when you visit BeerConnoisseur.com, use our website, subscribe to communications, create an account, submit content, place orders, participate in programs, interact with advertisements, or otherwise use services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Site” or “Services”).

By using the Site, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Policy, please do not use the Site.

2. Legal Drinking Age and Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for adults of legal drinking age. You must be at least 21 years old, or the legal drinking age in your jurisdiction if higher, to use the Site.

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

3. Information We Collect

We may collect information in the following categories:

• Information you provide: name, email address, mailing address, phone number, account credentials, billing and shipping information, subscription information, survey responses, contest entries, comments, editorial pitches, article drafts, product submissions, press releases, advertising inquiries, trade program information, and other information you choose to provide.
• Transaction and order information: products or services purchased, subscriptions, delivery details, payment status, order history, refund or customer service requests, and related records.
• Submission and contributor information: author bios, professional credentials, writing samples, media files, source information, images, videos, captions, and other materials submitted for editorial, review, advertising, or program consideration.
• Automatically collected information: IP address, device type, browser type, operating system, pages viewed, referring URLs, approximate location, date and time of visits, interactions with content, advertising identifiers, cookie identifiers, and similar analytics or usage data.
• Information from third parties: information from payment processors, advertising partners, analytics providers, email service providers, ecommerce platforms, social media platforms, and other service providers or partners when they are used in connection with the Site.

4. How We Use Information

We may use information to:

• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Site and Services.
• Process orders, subscriptions, payments, renewals, deliveries, refunds, and customer service requests.
• Send newsletters, marketing communications, order updates, subscription notices, editorial updates, and service messages.
• Review editorial pitches, contributor submissions, product submissions, advertising inquiries, ratings and awards entries, and trade program materials.
• Administer accounts, comments, surveys, contests, promotions, reviews, ratings, awards, and other programs.
• Personalize content, remember preferences, analyze traffic, measure performance, and understand how users interact with the Site.
• Display, measure, and improve advertising, sponsored content, affiliate offers, and promotional campaigns.
• Protect against fraud, abuse, security incidents, unauthorized access, and violations of our Terms of Service.
• Comply with legal obligations, enforce our rights, and respond to lawful requests.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Site uses cookies, pixels, tags, scripts, local storage, web beacons, and similar technologies. These technologies help the Site function, remember preferences, support account and shopping cart features, measure traffic, analyze performance, personalize content, deliver advertisements, measure advertising effectiveness, and protect the Site.

Cookies may be session cookies, which expire when you close your browser, or persistent cookies, which remain until they expire or are deleted. You can manage cookies through your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some Site features may not function properly.

We may use cookies and similar technologies for essential site operations, security, analytics, advertising, affiliate tracking, ecommerce, subscriptions, newsletter tools, and user preferences.

6. Analytics and Advertising Partners

We may use analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to understand how visitors use the Site and to improve performance, content, and user experience. Analytics providers may use cookies or similar technologies to collect usage information and generate reports.

The Site may display interest-based advertising and may work with advertising partners, ad networks, ad exchanges, supply-side platforms, demand-side platforms, and related technology providers. These partners may use cookies, pixels, identifiers, and similar technologies to collect or receive information from the Site and other websites in order to provide, measure, and improve advertising.

Our advertising partners may include Google, Raptive, and other advertising technology providers. Their data practices are governed by their own policies and contractual obligations. You can often manage interest-based advertising preferences through browser settings, device settings, ad industry opt-out tools, privacy preference links, or consent tools made available on the Site.

7. Ecommerce, Subscriptions, and Payment Processing

If you place an order, purchase a subscription, join a paid program, submit an entry fee, or buy products or services through the Site, we or our service providers may collect information needed to process the transaction and provide the product or service.

Payment processing is handled by third-party payment processors, such as Authorize.net or other providers we may use. We do not intend to store full credit card numbers on our own servers. Payment processors handle payment information according to their own privacy and security practices.

8. Email Newsletters and Marketing Communications

If you subscribe to our newsletters, create an account, place an order, enter a promotion, or otherwise provide your email address, we may send you service-related messages, order updates, editorial updates, newsletters, marketing messages, or promotional communications. You may unsubscribe from marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link in those emails or by contacting us. We may still send transactional or service-related messages when necessary.

9. Comments, Accounts, and User Submissions

If you create an account, comment on the Site, submit editorial content, provide product information, participate in a review or awards program, or send press releases, images, videos, or other materials, we may collect and use the information you submit to review, publish, moderate, administer, archive, communicate about, or otherwise manage those submissions and related programs.

Information you choose to make public, such as a byline, author bio, comment, profile name, or published submission, may be visible to others and may remain publicly available unless removed at our discretion or as required by law.

10. How We Share Information

We may share information in the following circumstances:

• Service providers: with vendors and service providers that help us operate the Site, process payments, fulfill orders, manage subscriptions, send emails, provide customer support, host content, analyze traffic, secure the Site, and provide related services.
• Advertising and analytics partners: with partners that help deliver, measure, and improve advertising, analytics, affiliate programs, sponsored campaigns, and Site performance.
• Payment processors and ecommerce partners: with providers that process payments, refunds, shipping, tax, order management, subscriptions, and related transactions.
• Program partners: with judges, reviewers, fulfillment partners, vendors, or service providers involved in ratings, awards, product review programs, contests, promotions, events, or trade programs, when necessary to administer those programs.
• Legal and safety purposes: when we believe disclosure is necessary to comply with law, legal process, enforce our terms, protect rights, investigate fraud or abuse, or protect the safety and security of users, the Site, or others.
• Business transfers: in connection with a merger, sale, financing, restructuring, acquisition, bankruptcy, or transfer of all or part of our business or assets.
• With consent: when you direct us or authorize us to share information.

We do not sell your name, address, email address, payment information, or account credentials in the ordinary sense of exchanging that information for money. However, some privacy laws define “sale” or “sharing” broadly to include certain advertising or analytics activities involving cookies, pixels, or identifiers. Where required, we provide choices to opt out of such activities.

11. Affiliate Links, Sponsored Content, and Advertising

The Site may include affiliate links, sponsored content, advertising, product recommendations, product samples, brand partnerships, and promotional content. If you click an affiliate link or interact with advertising, third parties may collect information about your interaction according to their own policies. We may earn commissions or receive compensation from certain links, advertisements, sponsorships, or commercial relationships.

12. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to operate the Site, provide Services, maintain records, resolve disputes, comply with legal obligations, enforce agreements, protect rights, complete transactions, administer programs, and for other legitimate business purposes. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

13. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any account credentials and for using secure devices and networks.

14. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on where you live and how you use the Site, you may have choices regarding your personal information, including:

• Updating account information by logging into your account or contacting us.
• Unsubscribing from marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link in the message.
• Managing cookies through your browser or device settings.
• Managing interest-based advertising through ad industry opt-out tools, device settings, browser controls, privacy preference links, or consent tools available on the Site.
• Requesting access, correction, deletion, or other rights where required by applicable law.

15. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you may have rights under California privacy laws, subject to applicable limitations and exceptions. These may include the right to know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, sell, or share; the right to access personal information; the right to delete personal information; the right to correct inaccurate personal information; the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information; the right to limit certain uses of sensitive personal information where applicable; and the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising privacy rights.

To submit a California privacy request, contact us using the information at the end of this Policy. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests. You may also use available privacy preference, cookie, or opt-out tools on the Site where provided.

16. EEA, UK, and Similar Privacy Rights

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another jurisdiction with similar privacy rights, you may have rights regarding your personal information, subject to applicable limitations. These may include rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to processing, request portability, and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

Where applicable, our legal bases for processing may include performance of a contract, consent, compliance with legal obligations, legitimate interests, and protection of rights. You may contact us to exercise available rights or to ask questions about our processing activities.

17. Third-Party Websites and Services

The Site may link to third-party websites, services, advertisers, social media platforms, ecommerce providers, payment processors, embedded content, or other platforms. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party sites or services.

18. International Users

The Site is operated from the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, you understand that information may be processed and stored in the United States and other locations where our service providers operate. Privacy laws in those locations may differ from the laws in your jurisdiction.

19. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on the Site with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the Site after an updated Policy is posted means you acknowledge the updated Policy.

20. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to submit a privacy request, please contact us:

The Beer Connoisseur®
P.O. Box 420903
Atlanta, GA 30342
Phone: +1 (404) 981-8342
Email: customerservice@beerconnoisseur.com