Print ads from the past that would be totally inappropriate nowadays

ollaetta · 14-01-2026 07:30PM #1

The thread on old TV ads that wouldn't be allowed in the "Me Too" age got me thinking that a lot of magazine ads wouldn't make it nowadays either. So many of them were sexist and racist not to mention the alcohol and tobacco ones promoting the "health" benefits of their products.

So, with Mods permission let's give it a go and I'll start it off with these two car ads.

ollaetta · 14-01-2026 10:05PM

Ideas for next Christmas….not.

StupidLikeAFox · 14-01-2026 11:58PM

Feels like smoking ads are cheating but anyway:

The "exclusive micronite filter" here was made of asbestos

StupidLikeAFox · 15-01-2026 12:00AM

Smoking

StupidLikeAFox · 15-01-2026 12:11AM

Ads

Cyclingtourist · 15-01-2026 12:27AM

Every example so far is for the American market and would have been 'totally inappropriate' in the Ireland of their day.

JupiterKid · 15-01-2026 01:28AM

Hoover magazine advertisement from 1971

StupidLikeAFox · 15-01-2026 02:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148544#Comment_124148544

I actuall remember this one:

Roman Emperor · 15-01-2026 02:39AM

In January 1991 this Budget Travel poster caused mayhem.

The Council for the Status of Women called it "anti-women".

The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland called it "offensive" and demanded it be removed.

I believe they eventually reached a compromise and covered the offensive area with a sticker.

freshpopcorn · 15-01-2026 02:55AM

This!

JupiterKid · 15-01-2026 04:50AM

How could we all forget this poster campaign from 1993? I believe it was the cause of a few traffic accidents…

JupiterKid · 15-01-2026 04:53AM

From the 1950s I'd reckon…

Hangdogroad · 15-01-2026 09:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148625#Comment_124148625

The Hunky Dory one, that was circa early 2000s, 2001 or thereabouts? Was the peak of the 90s-early 00s "Lad" culture (Loaded magazine etc)

Hangdogroad · 15-01-2026 09:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148544#Comment_124148544

The Mini one in first post is British.

Hangdogroad · 15-01-2026 09:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148608#Comment_124148608

Pretty sure that was an Irish ad too.

looksee · 15-01-2026 09:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148660#Comment_124148660

That title was also a radio jingle (there's another word from the past!) if I remember correctly.

Cyclingtourist · 15-01-2026 10:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148819#Comment_124148819

If it's British then why's the replacement of a fender quoted as $24.95 ?

Also the steering wheel appears to be on the left.

Edit:

Sorry, see the tiny one you're talking about now. I will take your word it's British.

Cyclingtourist · 15-01-2026 10:56AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124148658#Comment_124148658

Looks pretty tame by today's standards.

brokenbad · 15-01-2026 11:16AM

…..

Hangdogroad · 15-01-2026 11:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149054#Comment_124149054

That one wasn't real, was a spoof of general 70s 80s drink driving ones.

ollaetta · 15-01-2026 11:49AM

Long before Canada Goose we had Canadian Squirrel!

ollaetta · 15-01-2026 11:56AM

Brewed in Northern Ireland and maybe also in Waterford for a time.

loyatemu · 15-01-2026 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149074#Comment_124149074

there was an actual drink driving ad in the 80s "2 will do"

Hangdogroad · 15-01-2026 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149622#Comment_124149622

Yes, this one. It appeared in print too.

https://youtu.be/KE-145ywy0o?si=8K-BVDhFXsqpflxK

E30M3 · 15-01-2026 03:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149622#Comment_124149622

Even snappier it was 'Just Two will do'

ollaetta · 15-01-2026 03:37PM

Imagine a woman having a bank account of her own.

JupiterKid · 15-01-2026 03:41PM

Another banking advert aimed at women, this one from 1974

L1011 · 15-01-2026 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124149870#Comment_124149870

52 years later and we still have people complaining about people who don't carry cash :pac:

looksee · 15-01-2026 04:25PM

In 1969, just married, my husband's bank account was made a joint account, then I went into the bank to close my account and transfer money to the joint account. The bank clerk said I couldn't, I had to get my husband's permission to close my account.

cml387 · 15-01-2026 04:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124150024#Comment_124150024

It was difficult if not impossible for women to obtain credit or sign HP agreements up to the 1970's.

StupidLikeAFox · 15-01-2026 04:38PM

Slightly off topic, but here is a job advertisement in RTE in the 1940s:

"If a man gets the job, he will be paid £650 - £850 per annum, while if a woman gets it, she will be paid £500 - £700"

https://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1666-women-and-society/459194-radio-ireann-conditions-of-service/

Print ads from the past that would be totally inappropriate nowadays

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