There are plenty of products that we look back on and think, “How was that healthy?” Although Bournvita still exists as a health drink, the original recipe was anything but good for you. That didn’t stop them from advertising it as a health drink that could prepare people for anything life threw their way.
This ad shows how Bournvita helped an imaginary woman pass her driving test because she drank it the night before. Somehow, it helped her sleep like a baby. We don’t know how that happened, so don’t ask. But what was in the original Bournvita recipe? We know you’re wondering, so we’ll tell you. The powdered beverage had full-cream milk, fresh eggs, chocolate, and malt. Yum.
Morphine Shots for Children Teething
When a child starts teething, that means a terrible day for everyone at home, especially for moms. Kids teething are usually irritable and can’t easily sleep at night. Mothers also have a hard time sleeping because her kids will cry all night. What can a Mom do during this period? In the 1860, Mrs. Winslow came up with a soothing syrup for children teething.
When kids try out the soothing syrup, they would instantly stop crying and feel high. That high is driven by morphine and alcohol. Yes, you read it right. Drops of morphine will ease the pain but can eventually lead to something more painful than teething. In 1906, the US Pure Food and Drug Act forced companies to state the ingredients of every drug they market. The soothing syrup was banned but was still sold in some areas. Everyone loves a good night's sleep but not with Mrs. Winslows.
The Iver Johnson Irony
Guns shoot and kill. Therefore, they should be in the hands of an adult or someone who knows how to carefully handle it. Iver Johnson’s Arms and Cycle Works believes otherwise. They assert that their guns are absolutely safe that even kids can get hold of them.
Iver Johnson’s even printed that “Papa says it won’t hurt us” text on the kid’s dress in the ad. Their ad, for all that, is actually misleading. First, they say that it’s absolutely safe because their guns don’t misfire when dropped. Then, they say that “they shoot straight and kill.” Whatever this ad really means, guns are still dangerous. Iver Johnson’s or not.
NO 7-Up Near the Baby
Milk is for babies. That’s a universal fact. Babies, as little as they are, should be nourished with healthy food. Parents tend to be very picky when it comes to securing their baby’s health. They keep their eye on whatever the baby consumes 24/7. What about 7-Up? Will you let a baby have some?
7-Up released an ad in 1955 showing a baby enjoying a bottle of 7-Up. The photo is undeniably bothering. When a mom sees her baby holding a bottle of 7-Up, she’ll instantly take it away from the baby. According to 7-Up, their soda is actually better than other soft drinks. They even recommended putting a few drops in a bottle of milk. Fortunately, it was later known that 7-Up is equal to 10 spoonfuls of sugar and contains caffeine. Lastly, it can drain calcium from your baby’s bones. After you see this, you might never want to see 7-Up again, especially near your baby.
Zippo Use to Openly Promote Smoking
We would never see an ad like this anywhere in the US nowadays. This 50s-era ad for Zippo lighters shows two people sharing a smoke, which is something that is heavily regulated and banned in advertising because of known health risks. However, before all the laws and regulations, brands could use smoking as an advertising point.
Although the Zippo brand isn’t directly selling cigarettes in this ad, it’s pretty obvious what they wanted people to use their lighters for. This vintage ad actually wouldn’t be too bad if it didn’t openly promote smoking. Surprisingly, it’s not overly sexist or racist in any obvious way, so at least there’s that.