Okay so we all know that the 1970’s were a crazy time. Disco ruled, Elvis died, Thatcher became Prime Minister, Sony birthed the Walkman and there was cocaine absolutely everywhere.
According to creative agency The World’s Best Ever, in 1979, one in ten adults used drugs on a regular basis, with an estimated $420m a week going on the white powder.
With that much money being spent on the drug, I would definitely say that there was a healthy submarket in related paraphernalia; which of course, America, the greatest consumer capitalist society of the world, was never going to be slow to pick up on and take advantage of.
TWBE unearthed these incredible adverts from the burgeoning coke era between 1976 and 1981 and while drug paraphernalia and merchandise ads have remained in circulation for decades, with marijuana-related items obviously being a hot industry today, it’s fascinating to look back on the highly specific time when cocaine was king – it’s hard to believe that these were ever allowed to go to print, but brilliantly they were.
From cutters and inhalers to nose-washers – it’s all here, take a look and get a glimpse of how crazy the era was. Just remember, while coke was fine in the 70s and gave us 10 minute long disco epics, it was also famous for Daniella Westbrook and her eroded septum, so the dangers are obvious – consider yourselves warned.
