Google 'to lift restrictions' on spirit brands

Google is set to lift restrictions on spirit brand search campaigns in 2009, it has emerged.New Media Age reported that the search engine will allow spirit brands to run branded search campaigns in tandem with their other marketing activities - a move which could further help improve AdWords click rates.Bacardi Global Brands digital marketing manager Tom Jefferies said that the lifting of restrictions is a "big opportunity" for the rum producer and the firm will incorporate branded search into its promotional budget.While a formal announcement has not yet been made by Google, it is expected that the restrictions will be lifted within the first two weeks of January.Earlier this year, Google lifted a previous ban on search advertising related to gambling.According to E-consultancy, a number of "big name gambling sites" such as Guava are now working on pay-per-click ad campaigns now that the restriction has been lifted.