Which McDonald’s slogan debuted in 1971 with the promise of a break during the day?

McDonald’s introduced the slogan “You Deserve a Break Today” in 1971.

The line became one of the company’s best-known advertising slogans because it connected a McDonald’s visit with relaxation and an everyday pause. Its wording fit the brand’s fast-service identity while presenting the restaurant as a small reward in a busy routine.

The slogan is sometimes confused with later McDonald’s lines, especially “Have You Had Your Break Today?” That later phrase was used in advertising but is not the slogan that debuted in 1971. McDonald’s advertising history includes many locally adapted campaigns, so wording and dates can vary by market.

The campaign helped establish the long-running pattern of pairing a short, memorable phrase with a distinctive musical hook. It predates the 2003 “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign by more than three decades.