The following types of items are prohibited or restricted on alnol:

1. Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, Drug Paraphernalia, and Medical Drugs
   

2. Animal Products and Human Remains
   

3. Dangerous Items: Hazardous Materials, Recalled Items, and Weapons
   

4. Hate Items: Items that Promote, Support, or Glorify Hatred
   

5. Illegal Items, Items Promoting Illegal Activity, and Highly Regulated Items
   

6. Internationally Regulated Items
   

7. Pornography and Mature Content
   

8. Violent Items: Items that Promote, Support, or Glorify Violence
   

Policy decisions are complex. We consider many different and often divergent factors before deciding what is best for our community. Because we are a creative community, we are on the side of freedom of expression. We also tend to allow items that have educational, historical, or artistic value. Still, we know that even those items are subject to various valid and sometimes conflicting interpretations and emotional responses.

Art and history can be provocative, emotional, and divisive. There are some topics on which we may never reach a consensus as a community, which is okay. In the words of Joyce Carol Oates, “art should not be comforting; for comfort, we have mass entertainment and one another. Art should provoke, disturb, arouse our emotions, expand our sympathies in directions we may not anticipate and may not even wish.”

To help provide clarity and insight into our policy-making process, we have included the rationale behind our decisions and details about how they will be enforced, including some representative examples below of what is allowed on alnol. We reserve the right to remove listings that we determine are not within the spirit of alnol. Violating this policy may result in the member's selling privileges being suspended and/or terminated.

1. Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, Drug Paraphernalia, and Medical Drugs

Alcohol and drugs are prohibited on alnol. These substances face severe legal restrictions and are considered controlled substances under applicable law in many cases. Our policy also applies to other substances that have or are claimed to have an intoxicating or healing effect. Possible legal restrictions aside, these substances are not in the spirit of alnol.

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The following are examples of items that may not be sold on alnol:

1. Alcohol.

2. Tobacco products, smokable products, e-cigarettes, and e-liquid.

3. Drugs and certain herbal substances , including substances used for recreational and medicinal purposes, regardless of their legality.

4.  Drug paraphernalia , including items with a carburetor; slides and/or items with a slide; bongs and bubblers; vaporizers and their components.

5. Medical drugs, regulated medical devices, and pharmaceuticals.

Restrictions on descriptions of purported health benefits:

A medical drug claim is a statement or suggestion that an item prevents, heals, or treats a medical condition or disease. Medical drug claims are subject to varying degrees of regulation. If you make claims about the purported health benefits of an item for sale on alnol, we urge you to speak with a qualified expert about which regulations apply to you. It is your responsibility to know and comply with all laws and regulations that apply to the items you sell.

alnol prohibits specific medical drug claims based on our values, such as claims likely to deceive or pose an unreasonable risk to our community. alnol may remove claims that we deem inappropriate, excessive, or otherwise unsuitable for our marketplace. We also remove content promoting prohibited medical claims, such as anti-vaccine items. If alnol receives proper notice from a legal authority, we may remove an item.

2. Animal Products and Human Remains

Certain animal products are highly regulated and prohibited on alnol due to the risk of harm to living, companion, or endangered animals.

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The following are examples of animal products that may not be sold on alnol:

1. Live animals.

2. Items created using any endangered or threatened animal species.

3. Items made from cat and dog parts or pelts as defined by Law.

4. Ivory or bones from ivory-producing animals, including tusks, elk ivory, fossilized ivory, and wooly mammoth ivory.

5. Items made from human remains or products from the human body, except for teeth, fingernails, and hair.

3. Dangerous Items: Hazardous Materials, Recalled Items, and Weapons

For safety and legal reasons, We prohibit certain dangerous items from our marketplace for safety and legal reasons.

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Hazardous Materials

Due to the potential harm caused by hazardous materials and complex legal and shipping regulations surrounding such materials, hazardous materials are prohibited on alnol.

While not exhaustive, the following materials are examples of prohibited hazardous materials:

1. Explosives (fireworks or sparklers)

2. Explosive precursors

3. Flammable items

4. Gases

5. Radioactive material

6. Toxic substances (such as poisons)

Items that present an unreasonable risk of harm are prohibited, even if they have not been the subject of a recall. This would include, for example, items that present a choking hazard. We generally rely on information from various government agencies to identify these items.

Weapons

When companions to defining what is or is not a weapon, context matters. When in doubt, it’s safe to assume that we won’t allow any item intended to be used as a weapon to inflict harm. The following items are generally not permitted on alnol:

1. Guns, knives, or other blatant weapons, even vintage. See here for more information.

2. Imitation firearms and weapons that look real or are prohibited by law.

4. Hate Items: Items that Promote, Support, or Glorify Hatred

We want alnol to be a community where people of all backgrounds, nationalities, religions, political affiliations, and even different types of artistic taste and humor feel welcome. Art is incredibly subjective, and what is offensive to one is not necessarily offensive to others.

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AlNol does not allow items or listings that promote, support or glorify hatred toward people or otherwise demean people based upon: race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation (collectively, “protected groups”). We also prohibit items or content that promote organizations or people with such views.

alnol does not allow items or listings that promote, support, or glorify hatred toward people or otherwise demean people based upon race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, or disability (collectively, “protected groups”). We also prohibit items or content that promote organizations or people with such views.

The following items are not allowed on alnol:

1. Items that support or commemorate current or historical hate groups, including propaganda or collectibles. Examples of hate groups include Nazi or Neo-Nazi groups, Ku Klux Klan (KKK) groups, white supremacist groups, misogynist groups, anti-immigrant. 

2. Items that contain racial slurs or derogatory terms about protected groups.

5. Illegal Items, Items Promoting Illegal Activity, and Highly Regulated Items

We respect the law and expect alnol sellers to respect the law as well.

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Illegal items, items that promote illegal activity, and stolen items are not allowed on alnol. Neither are certain items subject to complex legal regulations or registration systems. Because alnol is planning to become a global company, it’s crucial to abide by the laws of the markets you are selling. What is legal in one country may be illegal in another. All forms of illegal activity are strictly prohibited. Listings may not facilitate or promote illegal acts.

Counterfeit or unauthorized items are prohibited on alnol. We consider counterfeit or unauthorized goods to be items that imitate an authentic good, particularly by using a brand’s name, logo, or protected design without the brand owner’s consent. Examples of prohibited counterfeit or unauthorized goods include replica luxury bags and branded apparel.

We require Designers to follow all applicable laws for the items they list. Examples of things that may be subject to regulation include plants and seeds, children's products, and food products.

6. Internationally Regulated Items

alnol provides a direct connection between customers and designers around the world. If you buy or sell an item from another country, or if you enter into a transaction with someone across international borders, you are responsible for complying with laws and regulations of the country of destination as well as your local laws.

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When buying and selling internationally, you should comply with your local laws and be aware that other countries may have their restrictions. For example, you might be prohibited from exporting or importing certain items under international laws and regulations. In addition, some transactions may require licenses, permits, or other documentation. If you have questions about complying with the law, we recommend that you speak to a qualified professional.

When you use alnol’s services, you are also responsible for complying with economic sanctions and trade restrictions, including those implemented by the Government. All members must comply with our Sanctions Policy, regardless of their location.

alnol reserves the right to request that Designers provide additional information, disclose an item's country of origin in a listing, or take other steps to meet compliance obligations.

Pornography and Mature Content

As a creative community, we tend to be fairly liberal about what we allow on alnol, but we draw the line at pornography. Beyond that, we restrict mature content so that people who are offended by this kind of material don't have to see it. If you are selling mature content, adult content is part of your designed goods and items in any way; we ask that you be respectful of differing sensibilities.

7. Pornography and Mature Content

As a creative community, we tend to be fairly liberal about what we allow on alnol, but we draw the line at pornography. Beyond that, we restrict mature content so that people who are offended by this kind of material don't have to see it. If you are selling mature content, we ask that you be respectful of differing sensibilities.

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Although pornography can be difficult to define, an item generally qualifies as pornography when it contains an extreme or explicit version of sexual content.

We define mature content as depictions of human genitalia, sexual activity or content, profane language, sexual wellness items, violent images, and explicit types or representations of taxidermy. Therefore, if you question whether your item is mature, then it is likely a good idea to assume that it is mature content, and you should label it as such.

When deciding whether mature content crosses over the threshold into pornography, we consider the explicitness of depictions of sexual activity or content.

8. Violent Items: Items that Promote, Support, or Glorify Violence

We want alnol to be a safe place for everyone. Therefore, while violent content can be a legitimate part of historical, educational, or artistic expression, it should never be used to promote or glorify violent acts against others.

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We do not allow items or listings that promote, support, or glorify acts of violence or harm towards self or others, including credible threats of harm.

The following items are not allowed on alnol:

1. Items that glorify human suffering or tragedies, including items that commemorate or honor serial killers

2. Items that attempt to exploit natural disasters or human tragedies

3. Items that encourage, glorify, or celebrate acts of violence against individuals or groups

4. Items that encourage self-mutilation, starvation, or other self-harm

We hope these guidelines are helpful, but we cannot catalog every permitted or prohibited item. If you see something on alnol that appears to violate these rules, you can report it to us by emailing contact@alnol.com . To report copyright or intellectual property infringement, please follow Alnol's Intellectual Property Policy .  

Plants, Herbs, and Seeds

Plants and their seeds are generally allowed to be sold, but some may be prohibited on alnol.

Herbal Drugs

alnol prohibits certain plants, herbs, and seeds based on various laws and regulations that ban or restrict the sale of particular drug-like substances. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change at any time.