Cookie Policy

2. How we use cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

• Authentication: to identify you when you log in and maintain your session
• Security: to protect against fraudulent activity and support security features
• Preferences: to remember your choices and settings (such as language or theme)
• Analytics: to understand how visitors interact with our website so we can improve it

3. Types of cookies we use

3.1 Essential cookies (strictly necessary)

These cookies are required for the basic functioning of our website. Without them, features like logging in, navigating between pages, and accessing secure areas would not work. These cookies cannot be disabled.

Legal basis: storing these needs no consent, because Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive exempts storage that is strictly necessary to provide a service you have asked for. The processing of the data itself rests on performance of our contract with you (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

3.2 Functional cookies

These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your preferred language, theme, or recently viewed locations) and provide enhanced features. If you disable these, some personalised features may not work properly.

Legal basis: Consent (GDPR Art. 6(1)(a)).

3.3 Analytics cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use the website, for example which pages are visited most often and whether people run into errors. We use Google Analytics 4. We should be precise here: the data is pseudonymous, not anonymous. Google assigns your browser a random identifier, and while we cannot connect it to your account, it is still personal data under the GDPR, which is exactly why we ask for consent first.

Legal basis: Consent (GDPR Art. 6(1)(a)).

4. Complete cookie list

These are the cookies and storage keys we set on bottlechallenge.org. Third parties named in section 5 set their own on their own pages.

4.1 Essential cookies

4.2 Functional cookies

Note on bc-auth-storage: it is listed once, above, as strictly necessary. It keeps you signed in, and it is stored in your browser's local storage rather than as a cookie. Signing out clears it.

4.3 Analytics cookies

5. Third-party cookies

5.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) provided by Google LLC to analyse website traffic. It collects the pages you visit, how long a session lasts and your device type. IP addresses are truncated before storage. We have not enabled Google Signals, advertising features or data sharing for advertising purposes.

Google may transfer data outside the EU/EEA. Google has committed to adequate safeguards under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy.

5.2 Stripe

Donations are processed by Stripe. When you choose an amount you are taken to a payment page hosted by Stripe, where Stripe sets its own cookies to process the payment and to detect fraud. No Stripe cookie is set on bottlechallenge.org before you go to that page. Those cookies are governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy.

5.3 Maps and place search

Our map is drawn with MapLibre, an open source library that runs in your browser. It loads map images from Esri and label fonts from OpenMapTiles, and the mobile app loads its tiles from CARTO. These providers do not set cookies for us, but any request for a map image carries your IP address and the area you are looking at to the provider that serves it.

When you type a place name into a search box, your browser sends that text directly to the OpenStreetMap Nominatim service, together with your IP address. We do not see or store those searches. We do not use Google Maps for this. For how these requests are handled, see the OpenStreetMap Foundation privacy policy and the Esri privacy statement.

Separately, when a venue is added or edited, our server looks the address up with Google Places. That request comes from our server and does not carry your IP address.

6. Managing your cookies

6.1 Our cookie consent tool

When you first visit our website, you are presented with a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept all cookies, accept only essential cookies, or customise your preferences. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the button below:

6.2 Browser settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can usually find these in the "Preferences" or "Settings" menu of your browser. Below are links to cookie management instructions for popular browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

Disabling all cookies may affect the functionality of our website. Essential cookies are necessary for the site to operate correctly.

6.3 Google Analytics opt-out

You can also opt out of Google Analytics specifically by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

7. Do Not Track signals

We do not read the "Do Not Track" header or the Global Privacy Control signal.

In practice this changes nothing for you. No analytics or other non-essential cookie is set until you actively choose it in the banner. If you do nothing, or close the banner, only the strictly necessary cookies in section 3.1 are used. A signal asking us not to track you would therefore have nothing to switch off.

8. International considerations

8.1 European Union & UK (GDPR / ePrivacy)

Under the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC) and GDPR, non-essential cookies require your prior consent before being set. We obtain this consent through our cookie banner. You may withdraw consent at any time.

8.2 California (CCPA/CPRA)

We do not sell personal information or use it for cross-context behavioural advertising. California residents can opt out of analytics cookies through our consent tool.

8.3 Brazil (LGPD)

Under the LGPD, we process cookie data based on consent or legitimate interest. You can exercise your data rights as described in our Privacy Policy.

8.4 Other jurisdictions

We aim to comply with cookie and data protection laws in all jurisdictions where our users are located. If your local law provides additional rights, we will honour them.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Re-ask for your consent if the types of cookies we use change significantly
• Notify you via our website if required by law

10. Contact us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us: