Cookie Policy

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to 4 Rivers BBQ, your trusted destination for authentic, slow-smoked barbecue and Southern-inspired comfort food. When you visit our website at 4rivers-bbq.digital, we use small data files called "cookies" to help us operate our website effectively, understand how visitors interact with our content, and improve your overall experience.

This Cookie Policy is intended to provide you with clear and comprehensive information about the cookies we use, why we use them, and the choices you have regarding their use. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, which provide additional detail about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

We are committed to transparency and compliance with applicable United States federal and state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act). If you are a California resident, you have specific rights regarding your data, which are described further in our Privacy Policy.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device — such as your computer, smartphone, or tablet — when you visit a website. These files are stored locally on your device by your web browser and contain a small amount of data, which may include a unique identifier. Cookies allow websites to recognize your device and remember certain information about your visit, such as your preferences, login status, or items in a shopping cart.

Cookies serve many different functions. Some cookies are essential to the basic operation of a website, while others help improve performance, remember your choices, or provide targeted advertising. Cookies can be set by the website you are visiting (known as "first-party cookies") or by third-party services that the website uses, such as analytics providers or advertising networks (known as "third-party cookies").

2.1 How Do Cookies Work?

When you visit 4rivers-bbq.digital for the first time, your browser sends a request to our web server. Our server responds by delivering the web page content along with instructions to store one or more cookies on your device. On subsequent visits, your browser automatically sends those stored cookies back to our server, allowing us to recognize you and tailor your experience accordingly.

Cookies can be either session cookies or persistent cookies. Session cookies exist only for the duration of your visit and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time — or until you manually delete them — and are reactivated each time you return to the website that created them.

2.2 Similar Tracking Technologies

In addition to traditional cookies, we may also use other tracking technologies, including:

  • Web Beacons / Pixel Tags: Tiny transparent images embedded in web pages or emails that help us track user engagement and email open rates.
  • Local Storage: A browser feature that allows websites to store data locally on your device, functioning similarly to cookies but with greater storage capacity.
  • JavaScript Tags: Small scripts embedded in our website that help us collect analytics and performance data.
  • Device Fingerprinting: A technique that collects information about your browser and device settings to create a unique identifier.

For the purposes of this Cookie Policy, all such technologies are collectively referred to as "cookies."

3. Types of Cookies We Use

We categorize the cookies used on 4rivers-bbq.digital into four main types, based on their purpose and function:

3.1 Essential Cookies

Essential cookies (also called "strictly necessary" cookies) are cookies that are required for our website to function properly. Without these cookies, certain features — such as navigating between pages, submitting forms, or accessing secure areas — would not work. Because these cookies are strictly necessary for the operation of our website, they cannot be disabled through our cookie management tools. You may, however, configure your browser to block them, but doing so may prevent parts of our website from working correctly.

These cookies do not collect any personally identifiable information and are only set in response to actions you take on our website, such as filling in forms or setting your privacy preferences.

3.2 Analytics and Performance Cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This data helps us improve the structure, content, and overall user experience of 4rivers-bbq.digital. For example, analytics cookies tell us which pages are most visited, how long visitors stay on each page, and where visitors come from.

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, to collect this information. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect standard internet log information and visitor behavior data in an anonymous form. The information generated by these cookies about your use of our website is transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

3.3 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies allow our website to remember choices you have made in the past and to provide enhanced, personalized features. For instance, functional cookies may remember your language preferences, your location, or your previously selected menu items. The information these cookies collect may be anonymized, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

3.4 Advertising and Targeting Cookies

Advertising cookies (also called "targeting" or "marketing" cookies) are used to deliver advertisements that are relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and to help measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. These cookies are usually placed by third-party advertising networks with our permission and remember that you have visited our website. This information may be shared with other organizations, such as advertisers.

We use Google Ads conversion tracking and Meta (Facebook) Pixel to measure the effectiveness of our online advertising and to serve relevant ads to users who have previously visited our site.

4. Specific Cookies Used on Our Website

The table below provides detailed information about the specific cookies currently in use on 4rivers-bbq.digital, including their name, purpose, type, and duration.

Cookie Name Provider Purpose Type Duration
_ga Google Analytics Registers a unique ID used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. Used to distinguish users and sessions. Analytics 2 years
_gid Google Analytics Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website. Stores and updates a unique value for each page visited. Analytics 24 hours
_gat Google Analytics Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate. Limits the collection of data on high-traffic sites. Analytics 1 minute
_gcl_au Google Ads Used by Google AdSense for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites using their services. Helps track conversions from Google Ads campaigns. Advertising 3 months
_fbp Meta (Facebook) Used by Facebook to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real-time bidding from third-party advertisers. Tracks visits across websites to measure ad effectiveness. Advertising 3 months
_fbc Meta (Facebook) Stores the last click ad information from Facebook. Used to connect website conversions to Facebook Ad campaigns. Advertising 2 years
cookieconsent_status 4 Rivers BBQ Stores the user's cookie consent preferences so the consent banner is not displayed on every page visit. Essential 1 year
PHPSESSID 4 Rivers BBQ Preserves user session state across page requests. Essential for the proper functioning of our website forms and navigation. Essential Session
wp_lang 4 Rivers BBQ Remembers the user's selected language preference to provide a consistent browsing experience. Functional 1 year
cart 4 Rivers BBQ Maintains items added to the online ordering cart between sessions, allowing users to return to their order. Functional Session
IDE Google DoubleClick Used by Google DoubleClick to register and report the website user's actions after viewing or clicking one of the advertiser's ads, to measure the efficacy of an ad. Advertising 1 year
NID Google Registers a unique ID that identifies a returning user's device. The ID is used for targeted ads. Advertising 6 months

5. How to Manage and Disable Cookies

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie preferences in several ways, as described below.

5.1 Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can configure your browser to:

  • Notify you when a cookie is being set
  • Block all cookies from being set
  • Block only third-party cookies
  • Delete all cookies when you close your browser
  • Delete all previously stored cookies

The following links provide instructions on how to manage cookies in the most popular web browsers:

Please be aware that restricting cookies may affect the functionality of 4rivers-bbq.digital and other websites you visit. If you use different devices to access our website (e.g., your phone, tablet, work computer), you will need to configure each browser on each device separately.

5.2 Opt-Out Tools for Specific Providers

In addition to browser-level controls, you can opt out of specific third-party cookies using the tools provided by those companies:

Google Analytics Opt-Out

To prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data across all websites, you can install the official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on:

Google Analytics Opt-Out Add-On

Google Ads and Personalized Advertising

To opt out of Google's personalized advertising, you can visit Google's Ads Settings page:

Google Ads Settings

Meta (Facebook) Opt-Out

To manage your advertising preferences on Facebook and Instagram:

Facebook Ad Preferences

Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Opt-Out

The Network Advertising Initiative offers a centralized opt-out tool that allows you to opt out of targeted advertising from multiple companies at once:

NAI Opt-Out Tool

Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Opt-Out

The Digital Advertising Alliance also provides an opt-out tool for interest-based advertising:

DAA Opt-Out Tool

5.3 Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that sends a signal to websites requesting that your browsing activity not be tracked. At this time, there is no universally accepted standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals, and our website does not currently alter its data collection and use practices in response to DNT signals. We will continue to monitor developments in this area and update our practices accordingly.

5.4 Mobile Device Settings

If you access our website through a mobile device, you may be able to control interest-based advertising through your mobile device settings:

  • iOS (iPhone/iPad): Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking, and disable "Allow Apps to Request to Track."
  • Android: Go to Settings → Google → Ads, and enable "Opt out of Ads Personalization."

6. Impact of Disabling Cookies

While you are free to disable cookies at any time, doing so may have a significant impact on your experience when visiting 4rivers-bbq.digital. Below is a summary of how disabling different types of cookies may affect your experience:

Cookie Type Impact of Disabling
Essential Cookies The website may not function properly. You may not be able to submit forms, complete online orders, or access certain secure pages. Core features of the site may break.
Analytics Cookies We will be unable to track website performance and understand how visitors use our site. This may limit our ability to identify and fix usability issues or improve content. Your browsing experience will not be directly affected.
Functional Cookies Your preferences (such as language or previously saved menu items) will not be remembered between visits. You may need to re-enter preferences each time you visit the website.
Advertising Cookies You will still see advertisements from us or our partners online, but those ads will be less relevant to your interests. You may see the same ads more frequently than you would if cookies were enabled.

7. Third-Party Cookies and Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins, and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy or cookie practices. We encourage you to review the privacy and cookie policies of any third-party site you visit.

Third-party services integrated into our website that may place cookies on your device include, but are not limited to:

8. California Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and its amendment, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), grant you specific rights regarding your personal information, including information collected through cookies. These rights include:

  • Right to Know: You have the right to know what personal information we collect, use, share, or sell.
  • Right to Delete: You have the right to request that we delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: You have the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information, including through advertising cookies.
  • Right to Correct: You have the right to request that we correct inaccurate personal information we hold about you.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA/CPRA rights.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 10 below. We will verify your identity before processing your request and respond within the time frames required by applicable law.

Please note that some data shared through advertising cookies (such as IP addresses or identifiers) may qualify as the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under California law. You can opt out of such sharing by using the opt-out tools listed in Section 5.2 above or by contacting us directly.

9. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our use of cookies, changes in the law, or updates to the services we use. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where required, provide you with notice via email or a prominent notice on our website.

We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and related technologies. Your continued use of 4rivers-bbq.digital after any changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to addressing your inquiries promptly and transparently.

Contact Information — 4 Rivers BBQ