A History of Coca-Cola Advertising Slogans

Throughout the years, the slogans used in advertising for Coca-Cola have reflected not only the brand, but the times. Slogans provide a simple, direct way to communicate about Coca-Cola.

The 1906 slogan, "The Great National Temperance Beverage," reflects a time when the society in the United States was veering away from alcoholic beverages, and Coca-Cola provided a nice alternative.

Other slogans have concerned our sales figures, such as "Three Million a Day" from 1917 or "Six Million a Day" from 1925. In terms of drinks a day, that's a vast difference from the one billion a day mark The Coca-Cola Company passed in 1997.

Some slogans for Coca-Cola have concentrated on the quality of the product, its refreshing taste, or even its role in entertaining, as in 1948s "Where There's Coke There's Hospitality."

In 1985, the introduction of a new taste of Coca-Cola (commonly called new Coke® ) and the reintroduction of Coca-Cola classic and the original formula led to multiple slogans. 1985 featured "America's Real Choice," while by 1986, two slogans were used to differentiate the brands, with "Red, White & You" for Coca-Cola classic and "Catch the Wave" for Coca-Cola.

Some advertisements themselves rise to the level of memorable slogans. The 1971 "Hilltop" ad featured a song with the words "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke." Although that wasn't an actual slogan (the ad in fact was part of the "It's the Real Thing" campaign), the ad and song lyrics are still so well known today that the lyrics are considered a slogan to many.

In January 2003, latest slogan for Coca-Cola was introduced -- "Coca-Cola... Real." The campaign (and slogan in turn) reflects genuine, authentic moments in life and the natural role Coca-Cola plays in them.

Slogans for Coca-Cola From 1886 to 2006

1886 - Drink Coca-Cola 
1904 - Delicious and Refreshing
1905 - Coca-Cola Revives and Sustains
1906 - The Great National Temperance Beverage
1917 - Three Million a Day
1922 - Thirst Knows No Season
1923 - Enjoy Thirst
1924 - Refresh Yourself
1925 - Six Million a Day
1926 - It Had to Be Good to Get Where It Is
1927 - Pure as Sunlight
1927 - Around the Corner from Everywhere
1929 - The Pause that Refreshes 
1932 - Ice Cold Sunshine
1938 - The Best Friend Thirst Ever Had
1939 - Thirst Asks Nothing More
1939 - Whoever You Are, Whatever You Do, Wherever You May Be, When You Think of Refreshment Think of Ice Cold Coca-Cola
1942 - The Only Thing Like Coca-Cola is Coca-Cola Itself
1948 - Where There's Coke There's Hospitality
1949 - Along the Highway to Anywhere
1952 - What You Want is a Coke
1956 - Coca-Cola... Makes Good Things Taste Better
1957 - Sign of Good Taste
1958 - The Cold, Crisp Taste of Coke
1959 - Be Really Refreshed
1963 - Things Go Better with Coke
1969 - It's the Real Thing 
1971 - I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke (part of the "It's the Real Thing" campaign)
1975 - Look Up America
1976 - Coke Adds Life 
1979 - Have a Coke and a Smile
1982 - Coke Is It! 
1985 - We've Got a Taste for You (for both Coca-Cola & Coca-Cola classic)
1985 - America's Real Choice (for both Coca-Cola & Coca-Cola classic)
1986 - Red, White & You (for Coca-Cola classic)
1986 - Catch the Wave (for Coca-Cola)
1987 - When Coca-Cola is a Part of Your Life, You Can't Beat the Feeling
1988 - You Can't Beat the Feeling 
1989 - Official Soft Drink of Summer
1990 - You Can't Beat the Real Thing
1993 - Always Coca-Cola
2000 - Coca-Cola. Enjoy
2001 - Life Tastes Good
2003 - Coca-Cola... Real
2005 - Make It Real
2006 - The Coke Side of Life
2009 - Open Happiness