Terms of Service

Howell · howell.app
Effective Date: April 14, 2026
Last Updated: April 21, 2026
Operated by: Owyhee Holdings LLC · Boise, Idaho

TL;DR

howell scans restaurant wine lists and brewery tap lists and recommends what to drink. ai can make mistakes — always use your own judgment. we’re a tool for enjoying beverages more confidently, not a substitute for a real sommelier or cicerone.

key points:

• your menu or tap list photo is sent to claude (anthropic) to read the list — it’s not stored on our servers
• ai recommendations may be wrong — taste is subjective, availability changes, prices vary
• 7-day free trial, then $9.99/mo or $59.99/yr
• sign in with apple required — one account per apple id
• you own your taste profile data — export or delete it any time
• disputes go to arbitration (you can opt out within 30 days)
• you must be of legal drinking age to use howell (21 in the us)
• cancel anytime

this is the friendly version. the legal stuff below is binding.

Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Owyhee Holdings LLC (“Howell,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) regarding your use of the Howell beverage recommendation applications — Howell Wine and Howell Beer — (collectively, the “Service”).

By using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

Service Description and Limitations

What the Service Provides

The Service offers:

• Restaurant wine list and brewery tap list scanning via your device camera
• AI-powered beverage recommendations based on your food order, location, and taste profile
• A personal taste profile that improves over time based on your ratings
• Session history of past recommendations
• Post-session rating and feedback

AI Recommendation Disclaimer

THE SERVICE USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO READ WINE LISTS AND TAP LISTS AND GENERATE RECOMMENDATIONS. AI-GENERATED RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE INCORRECT, INCOMPLETE, OR NOT TO YOUR TASTE.

• Availability and pricing change — menus and tap lists are updated and our scan reflects a point in time
• Taste is subjective — our recommendations are based on your stated preferences and past ratings, not guaranteed to match your palate
• The AI may misread menu or tap list text in poor lighting or unusual layouts
• Food pairing logic is heuristic — it may not account for your specific preparation, dietary restrictions, or allergies
• Restaurant and brewery staff are the authoritative source for what’s available and what’s good tonight

You remain solely responsible for:

• Your own beverage selections and purchases
• Verifying availability and pricing with your server or bartender
• Disclosing dietary restrictions and allergies to staff
• Drinking responsibly

The Service is a recommendation tool, not a substitute for a sommelier, cicerone, or your own judgment.

Service Limitations

The Service does NOT:

• Guarantee that recommended beverages will be available
• Guarantee that prices shown are current
• Account for personal allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions
• Replace professional advice regarding alcohol consumption
• Guarantee recommendation accuracy across all menu layouts, languages, or lighting conditions

Eligibility

To use the Service, you must:

• Be of legal drinking age in your jurisdiction (21 in the United States)
• Be legally capable of entering into binding contracts
• Have a valid Apple ID for Sign in with Apple
• Comply with all applicable laws regarding alcohol consumption in your jurisdiction

Howell is intended for personal, recreational use by adults of legal drinking age. If you are not of legal drinking age in your jurisdiction, do not use this Service.

Account Registration and Security

Creating an Account

Howell uses Sign in with Apple exclusively. You do not create a separate password. By signing in, you agree that:

• One Apple ID may only be associated with one Howell account per app (Wine and Beer are separate accounts)
• You are responsible for all activity under your account
• You will notify us immediately of any unauthorized use at hello@howell.app

Account Suspension or Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• You attempt to circumvent subscription requirements
• You misuse the Service in a way that causes harm or liability
• Payment obligations are not met

Acceptable Use

You may use the Service to:

• Scan restaurant wine lists or brewery tap lists for personal recommendations
• Build a personal taste profile over time
• View your past session history
• Rate recommendations to improve future picks

You may NOT:

• Use the Service if you are under legal drinking age
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or copy any part of the Service
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Use automated tools to scrape or abuse the Service
• Resell, sublicense, or commercialize access to the Service
• Use the Service in a manner that violates any applicable law

Subscription and Payment

Free Trial

New users receive a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. After the trial period ends, continued use requires an active subscription. The trial begins on the date of account creation.

Subscription Plans

The Annual plan is pre-selected at checkout as the best value. You may select Monthly before confirming. Subscriptions are per app — a Howell Wine subscription does not include Howell Beer, and vice versa.

Billing

Subscriptions are billed through Apple via StoreKit 2. By subscribing, you authorize Apple to charge your payment method on the schedule above. All billing is governed by Apple’s payment terms. We do not store your payment information.

Trial and Subscription Management

• Your trial automatically converts to a paid subscription unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the trial ends
• Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the renewal date
• Manage or cancel your subscription at any time via iOS Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period — you retain access until then

Refunds

All refund requests are handled by Apple per their standard refund policy. We do not process refunds directly. To request a refund, visit reportaproblem.apple.com.

Price Changes

We may change subscription prices with at least 30 days notice. Continued use after a price change constitutes acceptance.

Your Data

You retain ownership of your taste profile, session history, and rating data. By using the Service, you grant Howell a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Store and process your data to provide the Service
• Include your taste profile in recommendation calls to Claude API
• Generate pseudonymized behavioral events for internal analytics
• With your opt-in: include pseudonymized data in aggregate research datasets

We will never:

• Sell your personal data to third parties
• Use your data to serve advertising
• Share individual session data or taste profiles with beverage industry partners without your consent

See our Privacy Policy for complete details on data practices.

Third-Party Services

The Service integrates with:

• Anthropic (Claude API): Menu and tap list reading and recommendation generation
• Google Places API: Venue identification from GPS coordinates
• Apple: Authentication (Sign in with Apple) and subscription billing (StoreKit 2)
• Railway: Backend infrastructure

We are not responsible for third-party service availability, accuracy, or changes to their terms or pricing.

Disclaimers

No Warranty

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING:

• Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• That recommendations will match your taste
• That menu or tap list scans will be accurate in all conditions
• That the Service will be error-free, secure, or uninterrupted
• That AI-generated content will be correct

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOWELL, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Lost profits or opportunities
• Reliance on AI-generated beverage recommendations
• Service interruptions or data loss
• Inaccurate menu or tap list scans due to lighting, layout, or image quality
• Dissatisfaction with recommended beverages

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR $100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Howell from claims, damages, and expenses arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Inaccurate information you provide
• Third-party claims related to your use

Except for claims arising solely from Howell’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or material breach of these Terms.

Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Idaho, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

Arbitration Agreement

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

Disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration, except:

• Small claims court disputes (under $10,000)
• Intellectual property disputes
• Emergency injunctive relief

Opt-Out Right: New users may opt out of arbitration within 30 days of account creation by emailing legal@howell.app with your name and Apple ID email, stating: “I opt out of the Arbitration Agreement.”

Arbitration Terms:

• Administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA)
• AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules apply
• One arbitrator
• Location: Boise, Idaho, or remote by video
• Decision is final and binding

Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes individually, not as part of a class action or representative proceeding.

Service Availability and Modifications

We strive for high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance, technical issues, third-party outages, or events beyond our control.

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue features with reasonable notice. We are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Service.

Termination

By You

Delete your account at any time via Me → Delete Account, or email hello@howell.app. Deletion is effective immediately. Subscription access continues until the end of the current billing period; manage cancellation via iOS Settings.

By Us

We may terminate your access if you breach these Terms, your use creates legal risk, or we cease offering the Service. Upon termination, access ends and data is deleted per our retention policy.

Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement: These Terms and our Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and Howell.

Modifications: We may modify these Terms with notice via in-app notification. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver.

Assignment: We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. You may not assign your rights without our consent.

Contact

Support: hello@howell.app
Legal: legal@howell.app
Privacy: privacy@howell.app
Owyhee Holdings LLC · Boise, Idaho