# Question about soda cans. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065 "2005-01-16T20:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShortBus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@ShortBus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShortBus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/1 "2005-01-16T20:01:03Z")
When the pop-top soda cans were first introduced the hole that the liquid comes out of was smaller than it is today; I’m guessing about 30% smaller. I don’t remember when it was changed, but I remember noticing it when it happened. As I sit here and peer into my 7Up, I wonder why this change was made? Does it make it easier to open the can, or maybe it’s a mystery related to hydrodynamics? Anyone happen to know? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/2 "2005-01-16T20:11:24Z")
The style of the pop top tab was changed because in Ye Olden Days, people would pull off the tab off and drop it into their drink. Unfortunately, some people managed to swallow the tab and choke (I recall any deaths, though). Now the tab takes quite a bit of work, comparatively speaking, to remove. As for the hole size, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/3 "2005-01-16T20:24:25Z")
I think **Short Bus** is asking about the size of the actual drinking hole, rather than the pull-tab. The first time I recall seeing this was on a package of Mountain Dew marketed as “Wide Mouth cans”. The idea was that the larger hole increased airflow around the lips while drinking, resulting in a greater ability to chug. Previously, one’s chugging options consisted of either holding the can away from the mouth, resulting in Wet n’ Sticky Shirt Syndrome, or else applying suction to the can via the mouth in hopes of removing the liquid faster (of course, unless had sufficient lung strength to create a vacuum powerful enough to actually crush the sides of the can, this effort was in vain, but that doesn’t mean people didn’t try). Why exactly Pepsi determined the popularity of chugging to be significant enough to merit a change in can design is anybody’s guess, but if the state of can-holes (well, what would _you_ call them?) today is any indication, it was the correct decision. Keep in mind that the above, except for the part about the marketing, is more or less a WAG…but hey, it sounds good, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/4 "2005-01-16T20:27:57Z")
I still don’t know why they have not installed a tab for the hole on the side of the can near the bottom. To this day, high school students everywhere are forced to use a key or penknife to open this hole to shotgun a beer. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/5 "2005-01-16T21:19:01Z")
You’d be surprised at actually how much engineering effort goes into the design of a standard soda/beer can. The cans themselves are typically constructed from three different aluminum alloys. The body of the can is made from pretty cheap stuff, since the strength is maintained by internal pressure, and the can is strongest along its length. The top of the can is a stronger material, both for impact resistance, and to allow stacking of cans. Since this material is more expensive, the body of the can necks down towards the top so that less material is required for the lid. Finally, the material used for the tab needs to be stiff enough to pop open the orifice, but tough enough to be bent during this operation without breaking. As for the orifice itself being smaller - the cans are larger now than they used to be. 355 ml, versus less than 300 in a previous generation. The shape of this orifice probably has to do with the most efficient transfer of force from the tab to the perforated flap, as well as the tendency of the liquid to stream cleanly out of the can when pouring. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/6 "2005-01-16T22:05:11Z")
The 12 ounce/533ml can has been standard since before pop tops, even the pull tab variety. IIRC Mountain Dew actually promoted the larger opening as it allowed one to drink the beverage faster, though I may be thinking of the larger diameter tops on plastic bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/7 "2005-01-16T22:10:00Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I still don’t know why they have not installed a tab for the hole on the side of the can near the bottom. To this day, high school students everywhere are forced to use a key or penknife to open this hole to shotgun a beer. Technical response - Because the entire manufacturing process of the can would have to be redone. Non-technical answer - Because normal people don’t drink this way. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/8 "2005-01-16T22:40:01Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > IIRC Mountain Dew actually promoted the larger opening as it allowed one to drink the beverage faster, though I may be thinking of the larger diameter tops on plastic bottles. That’s what I remember too. I also seem to remember a brand of beer with the wide-mouth tops - not sure which one: Miller Lite or Icehouse? As to the OP: I assume that the wider mouth exists to sell more product, but I do not have a cite. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/9 "2005-01-16T22:47:53Z")
This is all I have: > [@](#): > > Coors Brewing Company has introduced the Widemouth Can, which has an > opening tab 40% wider than standard for easier drinking from the can or for > faster pouring. The 204-aluminium ends were developed with American > National Can, which operates the world’s largest can plant adjacent to > Coors’ brewery in Golden, Colorado. Coors says it plans to convert most of > its core brands to Widemouth, linked to a major marketing campaign. _Packaging Week_, 19 Sep. 1996, p. 1 ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/10 "2005-01-16T22:49:14Z")
And purely anecdotally, widemouth cans simply don’t “glug” like the narrower ones used to. It propogated throughout the market for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![glilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/11 "2005-01-16T23:05:51Z")
I remember the ad campaign that went along with the wider opening for one of the major beer producers (can’t remember which one). It was for a “smoother taste.” Smoother taste my eye! I suspect that the market research showed that people drank faster and consequently more or that people just preferred the larger aperature due to less “glugging”. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/12 "2005-01-17T00:19:14Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Packaging Week, 19 Sep. 1996, p. 1 > Reply With Quote I do believe that if I realized I subscribed to a periocical called _Packaging Week_ I would shoot myself in the head. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/13 "2005-01-17T00:20:15Z")
That should be “periodical”. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/14 "2005-01-17T00:24:11Z")
The OP having been answered, let me hijack this thread to ask a related question. Why are Coors cans noticeably narrower than other beer cans? ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/15 "2005-01-17T00:26:42Z")
I do have a subscription. Its free to the industry, mostly ads and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![glilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/16 "2005-01-17T00:30:10Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I do believe that if I realized I subscribed to a periocical called _Packaging Week_ I would shoot myself in the head. I remember seeing the old _Packaging Week_ around the house. It’s not one of those magazines you _subscribe_ to, it just gets sent to you (if they’ve identified you as being in a buisness that uses packaging). You don’t have to kill yourself if you get it. Only if you realize that you’ve been flipping through it in boredom. ---
**Author:** ![mdf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@mdf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdf)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/17 "2005-01-17T02:42:56Z")
Coors used, for a short time, a can with two scored openings - one small one and on the opposite side, a larger one. The idea was you pushed the smaller one in first, apparently to release the pressure in the can and allow the larger one to be opened more easily. We all tried to devise ways to open these cans with a single motion, with style and panache, and usually unintentionally bloodied knuckles. What other unique - and apparently failed - can opening methods have been tried? [/hijack] -mdf ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/18 "2005-01-17T03:08:42Z")
Thanks **Andros**! > [@mdf](#): > > What other unique - and apparently failed - can opening methods have been tried? Is this a cue to talk about cone-tops? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/19 "2005-01-17T03:14:44Z")
I suppose reading Packaging Week while on the can would be more appropriate than the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065/20 "2005-01-17T03:36:54Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > I still don’t know why they have not installed a tab for the hole on the side of the can near the bottom. To this day, high school students everywhere are forced to use a key or penknife to open this hole to shotgun a beer. The art is in the side hole. Too small and you can’t get it all down, too big and it goes all over your shirt. Re: the conical top. I’ll be damned. I figured it was for more support. Given the quantities of cans produced, that probably adds up to substantial savings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-soda-cans/285065.md?page=2)