Cookie Policy

Last updated: 2 May 2026.

Overview

This Cookie Policy explains how Booze.co.uk uses cookies, local storage, and similar browser technologies. These tools help the site run, remember preferences, secure the editor area, measure performance, and understand how readers use our journalism, events listings, search, and article tools.

Non-essential analytics storage is optional. Google Analytics is loaded only when a measurement ID is configured, and it starts with Consent Mode defaults that deny analytics storage until you choose to accept analytics.

Essential Storage

Essential storage is needed for the site to work. The site uses local storage to remember age verification on your device so the age gate does not appear on every page view. We also store your cookie preference so your analytics choice can be respected on later visits.

Essential storage may also be used for security controls, routing, service worker behaviour, progressive web app caching, and basic operational diagnostics. These technologies do not require analytics consent because they are necessary to provide the website.

Authentication Cookies

The editor area uses Supabase authentication cookies to keep authorised editorial users signed in securely. Supabase may also process session metadata, refresh tokens, and audit-related account information so that administrators can manage articles, events, authors, categories, corrections, and site health reliably.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics and Vercel Analytics to measure aggregate page performance and readership. Analytics helps us understand which trade coverage is useful to readers and whether features such as search, article sharing, event registration links, forms, and navigation are working well.

Google Analytics events may include page views, outbound link clicks, article share clicks, event registration clicks, button clicks, form submissions, and scroll depth. We configure Google Consent Mode with analytics storage set to denied by default, and we update consent only if you choose to accept analytics.

Progressive Web App Storage

The site includes a service worker so Booze.co.uk can behave more like a progressive web app. It may cache core pages and static assets such as icons, scripts, and styles to improve repeat visits and provide a basic offline fallback. Editorial pages are fetched from the network first so readers receive current news whenever possible.

Managing Cookies

You can accept analytics or choose essential only from the cookie banner. You can also clear cookies, local storage, service worker data, and cached files in your browser settings. Some site functions, including editor login, age verification memory, PWA caching, and your cookie preference, may stop working until you accept or sign in again.

Browser controls vary, but most browsers let you delete cookies for a single website, block third-party cookies, clear cached data, or disable site storage entirely. Blocking all storage may reduce functionality.