Which Coca-Cola advertising campaign used the slogan “It’s the Real Thing” in 1969?

“It’s the Real Thing” was the Coca-Cola advertising campaign that used the slogan in 1969.

The phrase became one of Coca-Cola’s best-known expressions and presented the drink as the authentic, original choice in a crowded soft-drink market. It appeared in print, television, radio, and music-centered advertising during a period when Coca-Cola was emphasizing shared experiences and youth culture.

The slogan is closely associated with the 1971 “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” commercial, although that commercial is often remembered by its song rather than by the broader campaign wording. The phrase also appeared in later Coca-Cola marketing variations.

“It’s the Real Thing” should not be confused with “The Real Thing,” which appeared in earlier Coca-Cola advertising language. The 1969 campaign is the specific source of the familiar contraction and wording used in this question.