11 Forgotten Food And Drink Commercials From The '70s That'll Make You Feel Old

Why It Matters

Understanding 1970s food‑drink ads reveals how branding, packaging, and cultural messaging have evolved, informing today’s strategies around sustainability, inclusivity, and nostalgia‑driven campaigns.

Key Takeaways

• 1970s ads introduced iconic brand characters and jingles
• Early Coca‑Cola plastic bottles sparked lasting packaging shift
• Grimace evolved from villain to friendly mascot
• Tab’s diet‑soda marketing reflected gender stereotypes
• Nostalgic spots reveal changing consumer values and regulations

Pulse Analysis

The 1970s marked television’s dominance as the primary conduit for consumer persuasion, prompting food and beverage giants to invest heavily in memorable jingles and larger‑than‑life characters. While campaigns like Miller Time and the Coca‑Cola Hilltop captured national attention, a slew of regional and product‑specific spots—such as Space Dust’s psychedelic flavors or the Taco Bell breakfast jingle—reflected a willingness to experiment with tone and narrative, laying groundwork for today’s content‑rich advertising ecosystems.

Packaging and health messaging also underwent seismic shifts during the decade. Coca‑Cola’s 1978 rollout of its first plastic 2‑liter bottle revolutionized distribution, foreshadowing the modern convenience‑driven market but also sowing the seeds of today’s plastic‑pollution challenges. Simultaneously, diet‑focused brands like Tab leveraged gendered appeals, encouraging women to pursue thinness—a tactic that would later be scrutinized for reinforcing stereotypes. Other ads, such as the Colt 45 “Jaws” spot, navigated cultural sensitivities, balancing edgy storytelling with emerging concerns about substance references.

For contemporary marketers, the legacy of these vintage commercials offers two clear lessons. First, nostalgia can be a powerful hook, as brands resurrect classic mascots or jingles to connect with older demographics while introducing heritage to younger audiences. Second, the era’s missteps—environmental oversights and exclusionary messaging—underscore the importance of aligning campaigns with evolving consumer values around sustainability and inclusivity. By studying the 1970s playbook, today’s advertisers can craft resonant, responsible narratives that honor the past while meeting modern expectations.