The Bottle UniverseThe Bottle Universe

Terms of Service

Last Updated: July 21, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or utilizing the web surfaces, mobile interfaces, or in-store physical kiosk terminals provided by The Bottle Universe Inc. ("The Bottle Universe," "we," or "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, all applicable laws and regulations, and acknowledge that you are responsible for compliance with any local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this platform.

2. Strict Age Requirement (21+)

⚠️ MANDATORY AGE RESTRICTION:

The Bottle Universe platform contains information and retail displays relating to alcoholic beverages. You must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to access this site, utilize our in-store kiosk fleet, scan shelf talkers, or make inquiries through the AI Sommelier.

By using our service, you affirm under penalty of perjury that you are of legal drinking age (21+ in the United States). Independent retail partners reserve the right to verify government-issued photo identification at any physical store location, during pickup, or upon delivery. Failure to provide valid proof of age will result in the immediate forfeiture of the transaction without refund.

3. B2B Merchant & Retailer Agreements

For participating retail store operators, managers, and merchants utilizing our admin portal:

  • Data Accuracy: Merchants are solely responsible for the precision of uploaded Point-of-Sale (POS) data, pricing matrices, inventory quantities, and vintage details.
  • License Compliance: You warrant that you hold all necessary local, state, and federal liquor licenses required to market and sell alcoholic beverages in your jurisdiction.
  • Subscription Fees: Subscription billing is managed securely via Stripe. Failure to settle outstanding balances will result in temporary suspension of digital storefronts and kiosk capabilities.

4. Consumer Acceptable Use Guidelines

When interacting with public pages, scanning QR codes, or utilizing the AI Sommelier Engine:

  • You agree not to attempt to reverse engineer, scrape, or extract pricing data, source codes, or layouts from the platform.
  • AI Sommelier prompts must be constructive. You shall not submit offensive, profane, or abusive prompts, nor attempt to bypass safety filters (jailbreaking).
  • You agree not to bypass, disable, or interfere with security features or age-gate screens.

5. Platform Liability Limitations & Guardrails

THE BOTTLE UNIVERSE IS A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM ONLY. WE DO NOT SELL OR DELIVER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

The Bottle Universe operates strictly under the Three-Tier System guardrails of state liquor laws:

  • We are not a licensed seller, distributor, broker, or delivery agent of alcohol. All purchase transactions, pricing decisions, age validations, and physical fulfillments are handled exclusively by the respective independent retail partner under their state-issued liquor license.
  • We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information generated by the AI Sommelier or POS data. Register prices at the physical store location always govern.
  • In no event shall The Bottle Universe be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages resulting from the use of, or inability to use, our digital services or kiosk fleets.

6. Jurisdiction & Disputes

These Terms of Service shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Massachusetts, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree that any legal action arising out of your use of this service shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Massachusetts.

7. Alcohol Compliance & Three-Tier Disclaimer

The Bottle Universe operates strictly under the Three-Tier System guardrails of state liquor laws:

  • Non-Seller Status: The Bottle Universe is a technology software provider and does not sell, distribute, fulfill, or deliver alcoholic beverages. All sales, inventory listings, pricing, age verifications, and order fulfillments are conducted exclusively by independent, licensed retail partners under their respective state liquor licenses.
  • Non-Brokerage Affirmation: The Bottle Universe does not act as a broker or agent for any retail licensee, manufacturer, or wholesaler. We do not hold a liquor license and do not buy, sell, or markup any alcoholic products.

8. Age Verification & Delivery Policies

Under strict state liquor laws, independent retail partners are legally required to verify the age of any purchaser:

  • Physical ID Checks:Valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's license, passport, or military ID) confirming the age of 21 or older is required for all in-store pickups and local deliveries.
  • Responsible Delivery: No packages containing alcoholic beverages will be left unattended at a delivery address or handed to any individual under 21 years of age, or to anyone who appears visibly intoxicated.

9. Pricing & Inventory Disclaimers

Product details, vintages, pricing, and availability are synced directly from the databases of participating independent retailers:

  • Register Price Governs: While retailers aim to maintain precise and updated pricing on our digital tags and kiosk screens, product pricing and store availability are subject to change without notice. The register price at the physical store location governs all final transactions.
  • Taxes & Fees: Displayed prices do not include local sales taxes, state container deposits, or excise taxes, which will be computed at the time of purchase.

10. ADA Accessibility Statement & Commitment

We are committed to making our digital retail tools accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities:

  • WCAG 2.1 AA Standards: We strive to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards for both our web storefront interfaces and our in-store 32-inch physical touchscreen kiosks.
  • Kiosk Accessibility Features: Kiosk touchscreen layouts are optimized with interactive reach-zones for wheelchair users, distinct touch targets (minimum 48x48 pixels), and high-contrast styling to ensure physical and digital ease of use.
  • Reporting Barriers: If you identify digital accessibility barriers on our platform, please report them directly to us at support@thebottleuniverse.com.