Which slogan did McDonald's introduce in 1971 to promote a break at its restaurants?

McDonald's introduced the slogan “You Deserve a Break Today” in 1971 to promote a break at its restaurants.

The campaign framed a McDonald's visit as a small reward during a busy day. Rather than focusing only on product names, the slogan sold a feeling of convenience, relief, and personal time. Its memorable wording helped make it one of the chain's defining advertising lines of the 1970s.

The slogan is sometimes mixed up with “Have you had your break today?”, a later McDonald's campaign used in the 1990s. Both phrases connect the brand with taking a break, but they belong to different campaigns and periods. “I'm Lovin' It,” meanwhile, became McDonald's major global platform decades later.

McDonald's slogan history shows how the company repeatedly linked its restaurants to everyday routines. The 1971 line was especially effective because it turned an ordinary meal into a simple moment of deserved relaxation.