In 2015, all advertisements are governed by a code of practice.
BORING right? Well you might be thanking our code of conduct overlords after you take a look at these vintage ads.
And hey, maybe in the following print ads, they weren’t even knowingly “pushing the boundaries“. Perhaps unwittingly, it was all in a day’s work to give a baby cocaine to alleviate a toothache or be physically punished by your husband for making his long black too hot. Or to do this.
Whilst it seems like these could never have been acceptable in any kind of society, modern or otherwise, history tells us that they very much were. And whether this came down to lack of facts or regulation, we may never know.
So although it may feel as though we are living in quite the regimented and politically correct advertising landscape these days, the alternative, as depicted in these vintage ads, will make you rather thankful that this is the case.
Actually let us show you 23 of the most astonishing vintage advertisements that would be banned today because unless you see them, I doubt you will believe them.
1. Van Heusen ties.
2. Kelloggs Obesity Elixer
3. Cocaine Toothache Drops
4. Chubbettes Fashion
5. Dr. Batty's Asthma cigarettes
6. Colgate Dental Cream
7. Schlitz Beer
8. Penis reduction pills
9. Love Cosmetics
10. Tipalet
11. Lucky Strike Cigarettes
12. PEP Vitamins
13. Chase and Sanborn Coffee
14. Unknown "intimate wash"
15. Camel cigarettes
16. Mr Legg's Slacks
17. Dropson's Grinders
18. Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter
19. Marlboro Cigarettes
20. Cola
21. Olive Oil soap
I think we can all agree, these adverts are not only laughable, they're also sickening. From a time when a woman was treated as an object, I think it's fair to say, we've come a long way.
Like this? You might also like
Things only women born in the '60s and '70s will understand
Whatever happened to evenings?
Things I've grown out of as I've grown older