Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

• Account Information: Email, username, password (encrypted), display name
• Profile Information: Bio, profile photo, location (optional)
• Vault & Review Data: Bottles, ratings, tasting notes, photos
• Payment Information: Processed securely through Stripe (we never store credit card numbers)
• Communications: Messages sent to support or other users

Information Automatically Collected

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on site
• Device Information: Browser type, IP address, operating system
• Cookies: We use cookies to maintain your session and improve user experience

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve our services
• Process your transactions and manage subscriptions
• Personalize your experience and provide recommendations
• Enable community features (following, activity feeds, leaderboards)
• Send important updates about your account or our services
• Respond to your support requests
• Prevent fraud and ensure platform security
• Analyze usage patterns to improve the platform

We will never sell your personal information to third parties.

Information Sharing

We share your information only in these limited circumstances:

• Public Information: Your public profile, reviews, and vault (based on your privacy settings) are visible to other users
• Service Providers: We share data with trusted partners who help us operate (e.g., Stripe for payments, Cloudinary for image hosting)
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and safety
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger or acquisition, your information may be transferred

Your Privacy Controls

You have control over your data:

• Privacy Settings: Control who can see your profile, vault, and reviews
• Access Your Data: Request a copy of all data we have about you
• Edit Your Information: Update your profile, reviews, and vault anytime
• Delete Your Account: Permanently delete your account and associated data
• Opt Out of Communications: Unsubscribe from marketing emails (you'll still receive essential account updates)

Data Security

We take security seriously and implement industry-standard measures to protect your data:

• Encrypted passwords using industry-standard hashing
• HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
• Secure database storage with regular backups
• Payment processing through PCI-compliant Stripe
• Regular security audits and updates

However, no system is completely secure. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication when available.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze site usage and improve performance
• Provide personalized recommendations

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not work properly if you disable them.

Children's Privacy

Dram Tales is not intended for users under 21 years of age (or the legal drinking age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect information from minors. If we discover that we have collected information from someone underage, we will delete it immediately.

International Users

Dram Tales operates from the United States. If you access our services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using our services, you consent to this transfer.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice on our platform. Continued use of Dram Tales after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.