Which Coca-Cola slogan debuted in 1969 with the phrase “It’s the Real Thing”?

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

The slogan appeared in a major Coca-Cola advertising campaign created during a period when the company was presenting its drink as an authentic, unifying product. It became especially associated with the song and commercial concept “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke,” which was developed for Coca-Cola in 1971.

People sometimes identify the 1971 song as the slogan itself, but the broader campaign slogan was “It’s the Real Thing.” Other Coca-Cola lines, including “Have a Coke and a Smile” and “Open Happiness,” belong to different advertising eras.

The phrase was influential because it linked Coca-Cola with originality and authenticity rather than simply describing flavor or refreshment. It remained one of the company’s best-known marketing lines for decades.