12 Candy Commercials from the ’80s That Wouldn’t Be Allowed Today
The candy commercials of the 1980s weren’t just colorful and fun; they often crossed lines that wouldn’t pass today. From strange characters to risky messages, many ads were made before stricter advertising rules took hold. Looking back, it’s clear how much things have changed in how candy is marketed to kids.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
In the 1980s, candy commercials were loud, weird, and often pushed boundaries without a second thought. Today’s stricter advertising guidelines, especially those aimed at protecting children, would never allow some of the things those ads got away with. Whether it was body shaming, promoting bad habits, or simply being too intense, these commercials wouldn’t survive today’s standards. Let’s take a look at 12 candy commercials from the ’80s that would definitely get pulled in today’s world.
1. Candy Cigarettes
Alf van Beem on Wikimedia
These commercials showed kids “smoking” candy sticks just like adults. The ads often included dramatic music and tried to make the candy look cool. Today, anything resembling tobacco use in kid-focused ads is strictly banned.
2. Fruit Stripe Gum
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
Fruit Stripe Gum commercials featured wild, bouncing mascots that screamed with energy. The overstimulation raised concerns about encouraging hyperactive behavior in children. Modern standards would likely see this as unhealthy advertising for young viewers.
3. Bubble Yum
Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels
One ad showed gum so soft that it was frightening, featuring creepy sound effects and horror-style narration. It was a strange way to sell candy to kids and felt more like a spooky movie trailer. These days, it would be flagged for using fear to market to children.
4. Reggie! Bar
Alina Matveycheva on Pexels
Ads for the Reggie! Bar leaned heavily on sports idol worship, showing kids begging their parents for candy just because Reggie Jackson endorsed it. It blurred the line between hero worship and smart food choices. Current ad rules limit how celebrities can be used to target kids.
5. Bonkers
Alena Shekhovtcova on Pexels
Bonkers commercials showed people getting hit in the head with giant fruit after taking a bite. While meant to be funny, the slapstick violence was extreme. Today, advertisers avoid anything that could promote physical harm in children’s media.
6. Now and Later
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
These ads dared kids to chew the candy without giving up, emphasizing how hard and sticky it was. The message seemed to reward discomfort or even dental damage. That type of messaging wouldn’t fly today under dental health guidelines.
7. Tart ‘n’ Tinys
Ylanite Koppens on Pexels
Some commercials for Tart ‘n’ Tinys portrayed girls as sweet and boys as wild, matching flavors to behavior. These outdated stereotypes would be considered inappropriate today; modern campaigns aim to avoid labeling based on gender roles.
8. Tootsie Roll
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
The dreamy ad suggested the candy could magically turn anything you imagined into a Tootsie Roll. It blurred reality in a way that some now consider misleading to young minds. Advertising to kids today must be clearly grounded in reality.
9. Pop Rocks
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
Pop Rocks ads often exaggerated the popping effects, sometimes suggesting it could blow your mouth open. While fun for the time, it encouraged risky experimentation. That kind of dramatization is now closely monitored for safety concerns.
10. Razzles
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
These ads created confusion for younger kids by mixing candy and gum in one product. While the slogan was catchy, it raised questions about choking risks and labeling. Regulations today require clearer warnings and age-appropriate marketing.
11. Big League Chew
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Big League Chew was directly modeled after chewing tobacco and even came in a pouch. Ads showed kids pretending to “chew” like their baseball heroes. Health organizations have since criticized these ads for normalizing tobacco use.
12. Snickers
Cemrecan Yurtman on Pexels
Before the famous 2010 version, early versions of this campaign in the ’80s played up hunger with aggressive or grumpy behavior. Some versions even mocked emotional reactions. Today’s focus on mental health would likely make these older takes unacceptable.