Google Lifts Policy Against Alcohol Advertisers

• In a recession, it has become clear the the alcohol industry strives. Just ask Brown-Forman Corp, the makers of Jack Daniels. Today they reported an 11% gain in net profits for this quarter.
• Who’s eye has this news caught? Interestingly enough, Google.
• In an annoucement today on their Official AdWords Blog, Google announced that starting today they will lift their policy against allowing hard alchohol and liquer makes from advertising through AdWords.
• Just this fall, Google changed their policy to allow beer companies to advertise. Now with the economy the way it is, google thinks it weill helps generate some clicks from guys looking for a stiff drink.
• As with TV and Print, the only regulation put over the alcohol companies in their advertisiements are to comply with the updated hard alcohol and liqueurs policy. Advertisers must promote the information about hard alcohol and liqueurs that their websites contain and they are not to directly promote the sale of hard alcohol and liqueurs (the latter part to does not apply to beer advbertisers)Google plans to expand this alcohol policy to other countries if local authorities will allow it.
• Ethically or unethically, this is good news for Google’s revenues. Google’s 4th quarter results will have significant help coming from the alcohol industry. They are one of the biggest advertisers in the entire world, and they certainly will want to try out a campaign with Google. They will also get a chance to target you on the go with yesterday’s news of Google Ads for the iPhone and G1

Tagged as: adwords, alcohol, Bad Economy, booze, drinking, drinks, Google, industry, lift ban