What McDonald’s advertising slogan debuted in 1971?

“You Deserve a Break Today” was the McDonald’s advertising slogan that debuted in 1971.

The campaign presented McDonald’s as a convenient and rewarding pause in a busy day. Its wording connected the restaurant experience with relaxation, a theme reinforced by the campaign’s well-known musical advertising style. The slogan became one of the company’s most memorable pre-2000 brand messages.

It is often confused with “I’m Lovin’ It,” which McDonald’s introduced globally in 2003, or with later slogans such as “We Love to See You Smile.” McDonald’s has used many country-specific and time-limited advertising lines, but the 1971 slogan is especially associated with the company’s classic television era.