20 Ads from the ’70s and ’80s That Would Get Banned Today
Some of the most memorable ads from the ’70s and ’80s wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s more socially conscious world.
- Chris Graciano
- 5 min read
Advertising in the ’70s and ’80s was bold and often controversial. Many ads from this era pushed boundaries and even dangerous product endorsements. Looking back, it’s clear why these 20 commercials would never make it to air today.
1. Virginia Slims – “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby”
Tjfrank612 on Wikimedia Commons
This cigarette ad targeted women by linking smoking to female empowerment. It ignored the massive health risks and instead glamorized the habit.
2. McDonald’s – “Keep the Hot Side Hot”
Dinkun Chen on Wikimedia Commons
McDonald’s promoted its now-discontinued McDLT burger by encouraging customers to use excessive Styrofoam packaging. With modern environmental concerns, pushing disposable containers like this would spark significant backlash.
3. Folgers Coffee – “You’ll Never Make Coffee Like Your Mother”
Jo Naylor on Wikimedia Commons
This ad featured a husband scolding his wife for making bad coffee, suggesting she learn from his mother. The blatant sexism wouldn’t fly in today’s advertising world.
4. Hubba Bubba – “Blow a Bubble as Big as Your Head”
Wikimedia Commons
Encouraging kids to chew and choke on massive wads of gum was risky even then. Today’s safety-conscious world wouldn’t allow a commercial that essentially dared children to test their limits.
5. Ayds Diet Candy – “Lose Weight with Ayds”
Nesster on Wikimedia Commons
This diet aid was doomed by its unfortunate name, but even without the tragic association with the AIDS epidemic. Promoting weight loss through candy with questionable ingredients wouldn’t hold up today.
6. Benson & Hedges – “The Disadvantages of a Long Cigarette”
Lanfear’s Bane on Wikimedia Commons
A commercial that made smoking seem playful and fun would be banned instantly. Modern regulations prohibit tobacco companies from advertising in a way that downplays health risks.
7. Coca-Cola – “Coke Adds Life”
M0tty on Wikimedia Commons
This campaign suggested that drinking Coke was essential to a fulfilling life. With today’s focus on obesity and sugar-related health issues, implying that soda is a life necessity would be widely criticized.
8. Fiat – “The Woman Who Says No”
Berthold Werner on Wikimedia Commons
A European Fiat ad featured a man stalking a woman until she finally agreed to ride in his car. The problematic message about consent would be enough to get it pulled immediately today.
9. Flintstones Cigarette Commercials
A.Currell on Flickr
Yes, Fred and Barney once smoked Winston cigarettes in TV ads. Having cartoon characters promote tobacco products to a family audience would never be acceptable now.
10. Sugar Frosted Flakes – “They’re Gr-r-reat for You”
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
Tony the Tiger’s famous cereal was once marketed as a healthy breakfast. Today, with stricter truth-in-advertising rules, calling sugar-laden cereals “great for you” wouldn’t make it past regulators.
11. Schlitz Beer – “You Only Go Around Once”
Victorgrigas on Wikimedia Commons
This beer commercial encouraged people to live life to the fullest—by drinking excessively. Given modern awareness about alcohol abuse, an ad that indirectly promotes binge drinking wouldn’t make the cut.
12. Leggs Pantyhose – “Show Him You’ve Got Legs”
Bahadır Aydın on Pexels
An ad focusing solely on impressing a man with legwear would be criticized for its outdated gender messaging. Today’s commercials aim to empower, not just appeal to the male gaze.
13. Honda – “The Car That Lets You Be a Man”
Yosoystevee on Wikimedia Commons
Marketing a car as a tool for proving masculinity feels completely outdated. Today’s ads focus on performance, technology, and inclusivity, not reinforcing old-fashioned gender norms.
14. Play-Doh – “For Boys and Girls”
Letstown on Wikimedia Commons
Some Play-Doh ads from the ’70s and ’80s included separate play ideas for boys and girls. However, as companies push for more inclusive marketing, assigning specific toys based on gender is frowned upon now.
15. Dr Pepper – “10, 2, and 4”
Holy-DYVR on Wikimedia Commons
This campaign encouraged people to drink soda three times a day for “energy.” Given modern concerns about sugar and diabetes, suggesting this kind of consumption would be highly irresponsible.
16. Light Beer – “Tastes Great, Less Filling”
Ted Thompson on Flickr
This decades-long campaign turned beer drinking into a competition, often portraying women as nothing more than eye candy. The message that excessive beer consumption was a fun sport wouldn’t work in today’s advertising climate.
17. Jell-O Pudding Pops – “Bill Cosby for Jell-O”
We hope on Wikimedia Commosn
While the product was harmless, the association with Bill Cosby makes these ads unthinkable. No brand today would risk aligning with such a controversial figure.
18. Pepsi – “Take the Pepsi Challenge”
PepsiCo, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Encouraging blind taste tests between sugary sodas was a major marketing move, but today’s focus on healthier choices makes this campaign less appealing. Pushing sugary drinks so aggressively wouldn’t sit well with modern audiences.
19. Burger King – “Herb the Nerd”
AntonioMartin on Wikimedia Commons
Burger King spent millions on a campaign featuring a fictional character who had never eaten a Whopper, hoping it would catch on. The campaign flopped, and today, it would likely be criticized for mocking people who don’t fit the mainstream mold.
20. Camel Cigarettes – “Joe Camel”
Pittigrilli on Wikimedia Commons
This cartoon camel was clearly aimed at making smoking look cool to kids. Once studies proved children recognized Joe Camel as easily as Mickey Mouse, the backlash led to a total advertising ban for cigarette mascots.