It’s been a while since my last post. I have been really busy. But if you haven’t already heard Google have now updated their ad policy for hard alcohol and liquer targeting the U.S. I am told the UK will follow suit in the coming weeks.
Google had already quietly changed their policy at the end of October allowing PPC ads for beer. However according to the Inside Adwords blog the new rules are for promotion and branding rather than direct sale which are still not allowed -
“To comply with the updated hard alcohol and liqueurs policy, advertisers must promote the information about hard alcohol and liqueurs that their websites contain, such as recipes and brand messages. Ads that directly promote the sale of hard alcohol and liqueurs are still not permissible through our program. In contrast, advertisements for beer may directly promote its sale.“
The news comes after Google firstly removed their keyword trademark policy in the UK and then permitted advertising for online gambling in the UK, Italy, France and Spain.
Obviously only the cynics would correlate this with an attempt to subdue the effects of the current economic climate, Googles subsequent fall in share price and predicted fall in ad spend for 2009 where 97% of Googles revenue is still driven from. Although it is certainly good to see Google making decisions on a local level meaning big opportunities have opened up for those businesses (and in turn search marketing agencies) in these industries.
Gee, I’m surprised that Google hasn’t also included some type of Health warning, in reference to Alcohol consumption !?!
Many of us have been actively attempting to convince our Government Officials, to implement
mandatory Health Warning Labels, on all liquor containers.
We’ve yet to receive a positive response !
As a recovering alcoholic now 20 months, trying to spread the warning, I’ve discovered there are many individuals out there, with afflictions, from my Grand-Mal Seizures, to complete rotted livers, near total deafness, blindness, and heart attacks. All, from Alcohol consumption, with no medical cures at this time, either ! And keep in mind, these are not dirt poor individuals either, but from backgrounds the same or similar to mine & my late husbands. Individuals who have never been drunk nor involved in this ‘bingeing’ either. But have their health destroyed because of it !!! In addition to the fact that most of them, have been too ashamed to speak out about it to others !
So, perhaps Google, could look at this side of our Alcohol consumption situtation. And add their own health warning to these ads ?!?
That would be of tremendous help !
Don’t forget, our youth need to be warned,
otherwise, what’s going to happen when all of us old farts are in nursing homes, being spoon fed & diapered, who’s going to be fit enough to take over the many professions we’ve been holding down ???
May God help us all !!!!
/sjg
December 9th, 2008