jan 1, 1905 - Coca-Cola

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This Coca-Cola ad, presumably set in a bar or soda fountain, depicts a middle-aged man drinking eagerly, as well as a young boy sitting at the counter awaiting his drink. The atmosphere of the picture appears to be ornate, suggesting that the child is mature and "grown up" enough to be in such places. If kids wanted to seem "grown up" like this boy, all they had to do was get an ice cold Coke. Unfortunately, these unsuspecting children were drinking harmful and addictive substances. Aside from the enormous amount of sugar in each bottle, Coke contained cocaine (or traces, at the very least) until 1929. This drug was known to be dangerous. Even Dr. Sigmund Freud, a regular user, noted its cause of “physical and moral decadence.” With immense public pressure, Coke eventually removed all cocaine from its drinks, but not without hooking millions of children and adults alike on a lethal drug.

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