Which McDonald's slogan, first used in 1971, invited customers to take a break?

The McDonald's slogan first used in 1971 was “You Deserve a Break Today.”

The line became one of the defining advertising messages of McDonald's early national and international growth. It presented a visit to the restaurant as a small reward or pause in a busy day, connecting the brand with convenience, comfort, and routine.

The campaign was especially memorable because the words were used in a jingle. The musical treatment helped the slogan remain recognizable beyond individual advertisements and made it part of popular advertising culture.

This slogan is sometimes confused with “I'm lovin' it,” which McDonald's introduced decades later in 2003. It is also distinct from “You Can Count on McDonald's,” another later campaign line. The 1971 date places “You Deserve a Break Today” firmly in the period when McDonald's was building a broad family-oriented national identity.