Smirnoff: the effect was shattering

Before the rules of alcohol adverstising changed in 1975, this legendary poster campaign seemed to suggest that a mere first sip of Smirnoff vodka was a life melting, transformative experience. Substitute the word ‘heroin’  for ‘Smirnoff’ and it still makes sense. The campaign was the work of the London-based Young and Rubican agency and was, in terms of sales, fantastically successful. Marketing Director at the time, Tim Ambler, recalls that