# Why the switch from Pull Tabs on soda to those things that bend in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953 "2012-01-18T22:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/41 "2012-01-19T15:58:47Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I am completely and utterly failing to comprehend what this thread is about. > > Is [this](http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-soda-can-pull-tabs-image3181934) not an image of a bunch of pull tabs? > > I ask because I have never seen a soda can, ever in my life, that didn’t have one of these on it. And these things are what I have always called “pull tabs.” And googling “soda pop pull tab” yields images of these things. Yet the thread seems to be saying there have not been pull tabs on sodas in years. > > Am I in an alternate universe? > > What is happening? That is what they look like now. Up until the early eighties they looked like this: [http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1054&bih=511&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=KLjU93wQV17WAM:&imgrefurl=http://www.wolfstad.com/2007/10/old-fashioned-cans-with-pull-tabs-still-used-around-the-world-after-30-years/&docid=58rwTt8ky5cCNM&imgurl=http://www.wolfstad.com/wp-content/2007/egypt-coke-can.jpg&w=425&h=577&ei=Vj0YT5XSKcLg0QHJz4HOCw&zoom=1](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1054&bih=511&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=KLjU93wQV17WAM:&imgrefurl=http://www.wolfstad.com/2007/10/old-fashioned-cans-with-pull-tabs-still-used-around-the-world-after-30-years/&docid=58rwTt8ky5cCNM&imgurl=http://www.wolfstad.com/wp-content/2007/egypt-coke-can.jpg&w=425&h=577&ei=Vj0YT5XSKcLg0QHJz4HOCw&zoom=1) Life used to be more dangerous. Edit. A few people beat me to the punch. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/42 "2012-01-19T16:56:19Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I remember some cans having these raised circles that you had to push in with your finger. Not only was it harder to do than a pop top, but you could also scrape your finger on the sharp edge of the can if you didn’t push in the middle. I hated those things. I pretty much always had to find something to use to push them in, especially the little one for the air hole. BTW, it was called a push button can. This site shows the different types and when they were used: [http://www.usasoda.com/Info.htm](http://www.usasoda.com/Info.htm) ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/43 "2012-01-19T17:02:24Z")
> [@robby](#): > > This seems much too high. Cite? [Wikipedia mentions](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_can#Opening_mechanisms) attempts at introducing pull-tabs in the 1920s and says that “later advancements saw the ends of the can made out of aluminium instead of steel.” This 17% figure might have been true years ago for old cans where only the top was aluminum, but clearly it isn’t a reasonable claim for an all-aluminum can. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/44 "2012-01-19T17:39:39Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > I don’t see how. . . . I should have added :p. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/45 "2012-01-19T20:05:39Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > A lot of stuff like that is buried in landfills, or floating in those enormous “garbage islands” in the middle of the ocean. I was going to say that, too. But I believe those mostly consist of tiny, TINY, pieces of translucent plastic. Think if you shredded a plastic bag really small. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Real nostalgia is when you can remember cans you had to open with a church key. I am too young to remember those, but I do remember when SPAM had them. I think those are mostly gone, in favor of the “giant pull tab” style like on cat food? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/46 "2012-01-19T20:24:46Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I am too young to remember those, but I do remember when SPAM had them. I think those are mostly gone, in favor of the “giant pull tab” style like on cat food? I think you’re talking about [these](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=canned+spam&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=870&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=18OZM9syj-4bLM:&imgrefurl=http://www.canstockphoto.com/canned-spam-6984773.html&docid=XI5vXOEmjBtf7M&imgurl=http://comps.canstockphoto.com/can-stock-photo_csp6984773.jpg&w=315&h=400&ei=TnsYT8XxMKW20QGxm7XVCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=423&sig=102891381945366291351&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&tx=85&ty=50), but I think that post was referring to one of [these](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=church+key&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=870&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=k6zRsKuurNBEYM:&imgrefurl=http://absolutegalore.com/%3Ftag%3Dfamily&docid=mDk2kbiOtSiiDM&imgurl=http://absolutegalore.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/church-key-can-and-bottle-opener.jpg&w=1385&h=726&ei=LHsYT8--FqXr0gHm08yxCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=362&sig=100285698144281530110&page=1&tbnh=106&tbnw=202&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=96&ty=84) as a church key. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/47 "2012-01-19T22:38:43Z")
I seem to remember that lots of soda machines had a bin where you could deposit the pull tabs. However they were new fangled. When I was a kid we went on picnics and brought [cone top soda cans](http://www.gono.com/museum2003/cone%20top%20soda%20cans/cone%20top%20soda%20cans.htm) which you twisted off. I’m not sure if I remember Coke coming that way, I know orange soda did. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/48 "2012-01-19T23:31:51Z")
I remember badly cutting my big toe on one of these that was sticking up on a lake shore. Yeah, I’m glad these things are not part of current packaging techniques. There was a lot of talk at the time about the wildlife interaction with pull-tabs. I think people believed that deer, especially, would eat these and then suffer gastrointestinal damage and death. Let me check. … Spent five minutes and the entire ‘why recycle tabs / do they really do to charity’ debate/answers made my search difficult. And I’m trying to eat dinner. Yeah… that’s the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Goggles03](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Goggles03](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goggles03)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/49 "2012-01-20T00:00:48Z")
I thought the pull tab openers were changed because they could be made into ad-hoc weapons: a few pull tabs on your fingers and you had instant brass knuckles. Or at least that’s what someone told me… ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/50 "2012-01-20T00:11:10Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I think you’re talking about [these](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=canned+spam&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=870&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=18OZM9syj-4bLM:&imgrefurl=http://www.canstockphoto.com/canned-spam-6984773.html&docid=XI5vXOEmjBtf7M&imgurl=http://comps.canstockphoto.com/can-stock-photo_csp6984773.jpg&w=315&h=400&ei=TnsYT8XxMKW20QGxm7XVCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=423&sig=102891381945366291351&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&tx=85&ty=50), but I think that post was referring to one of [these](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=church+key&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=870&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=k6zRsKuurNBEYM:&imgrefurl=http://absolutegalore.com/%3Ftag%3Dfamily&docid=mDk2kbiOtSiiDM&imgurl=http://absolutegalore.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/church-key-can-and-bottle-opener.jpg&w=1385&h=726&ei=LHsYT8--FqXr0gHm08yxCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=362&sig=100285698144281530110&page=1&tbnh=106&tbnw=202&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=96&ty=84) as a church key. I blame my family perhaps, using that name. But even “church key” is kind of a shibboleth for over a certain age, as most people just call it a “bottle opener”, referring to the pointy end on those. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/51 "2012-01-20T00:51:05Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I think you’re talking about [these](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=canned+spam&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=870&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=18OZM9syj-4bLM:&imgrefurl=http://www.canstockphoto.com/canned-spam-6984773.html&docid=XI5vXOEmjBtf7M&imgurl=http://comps.canstockphoto.com/can-stock-photo_csp6984773.jpg&w=315&h=400&ei=TnsYT8XxMKW20QGxm7XVCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=423&sig=102891381945366291351&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&tx=85&ty=50), but I think that post was referring to one of [these](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=church+key&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=870&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=k6zRsKuurNBEYM:&imgrefurl=http://absolutegalore.com/%3Ftag%3Dfamily&docid=mDk2kbiOtSiiDM&imgurl=http://absolutegalore.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/church-key-can-and-bottle-opener.jpg&w=1385&h=726&ei=LHsYT8--FqXr0gHm08yxCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=362&sig=100285698144281530110&page=1&tbnh=106&tbnw=202&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&tx=96&ty=84) as a church key. I made the same mistake as him at first. Only things I remember with the “church key” would be large cans of things like Hawaiian Punch or Hi-C or maybe some of the less common fruit juices, like pineapple. It was never called “church key” in our house, it was just “can opener”. Had to determine by context whether you meant that one or the one to open soup cans. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/52 "2012-01-20T03:30:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Real nostalgia is when you can remember cans you had to open with a church key. Damn, that does bring back some memories. But only with large cans like **TBG** says. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/53 "2012-01-20T04:03:05Z")
Okay, I am definitely confusing my devices but have it straight now: A “church key” is the unwieldy tool with a big butterfly-looking “winder” that allows you to open a can around the rim. In our house, we just called it a “can opener.” We still use one to open cans of sweetened condensed milk over here. That small, long object with the triangular puncher used to open holes in large cans of juice, I’m not sure what that was called. Church keys often had one at the end of one hande. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/54 "2012-01-20T04:26:54Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Okay, I am definitely confusing my devices but have it straight now: A “church key” is the unwieldy tool with a big butterfly-looking “winder” that allows you to open a can around the rim. In our house, we just called it a “can opener.” We still use one to open cans of sweetened condensed milk over here. That small, long object with the triangular puncher used to open holes in large cans of juice, I’m not sure what that was called. Church keys often had one at the end of one hande. No, you still seem confused. [These](http://www.wordorigins.org/images/churchkeys.jpg) are all examples of church keys. The one you’re thinking of is sometimes called a [butterfly can opener](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31r3-wwXmfL._SL500_AA300_.jpg). Many of them have a church key at the end of one handle. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/55 "2012-01-20T04:57:56Z")
It is a little known fact that you could use the (nearly) circular parts in a lot of vending machines and parking meters as dimes. I guess the industry wasn’t very concerned about people using counterfeit coins. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/56 "2012-01-20T23:30:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No, you still seem confused. [These](http://www.wordorigins.org/images/churchkeys.jpg) are all examples of church keys. The one you’re thinking of is sometimes called a [butterfly can opener](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31r3-wwXmfL._SL500_AA300_.jpg). Many of them have a church key at the end of one handle. Okay. Got it now. Fond childhood memories of church keys. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/57 "2012-01-21T00:03:33Z")
I’m old enough to not only remember when beverage cans needed openers, I remember when pull tabs were first introduced. The Pittsburgh Brewing Company introduced them on cans of Iron City Beer in 1962. I grew up in Western Pennsylvania and remember advertisements for the new cans during Pittsburgh Pirates games on TV. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/58 "2012-01-21T17:05:01Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I tried to find a church key at the store the other day and couldn’t find one. There was a time when the little church key/bottle opener combos were ubiquitously attached magnetically to every refrigerator in the world. Damn, now I can’t find my buggy whip either. People don’t still have those on their fridges? I have one. OK, I only use it to open cans of evaporated milk for the 3 recipes I use that call for it, but I have one and it’s on my fridge! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/59 "2012-01-21T17:10:43Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m old enough to not only remember when beverage cans needed openers, I remember when pull tabs were first introduced. The Pittsburgh Brewing Company introduced them on cans of Iron City Beer in 1962. I grew up in Western Pennsylvania and remember advertisements for the new cans during Pittsburgh Pirates games on TV. So, before then, you had to use a can opener to drink a beer? Did people drink beer directly out of the can, in those days? ---
**Author:** ![Dufus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Dufus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dufus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953/60 "2012-01-21T17:48:43Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > So, before then, you had to use a can opener to drink a beer? Did people drink beer directly out of the can, in those days? Did they ever! Sometimes the price would be stamped on top of the can with blue ink. It was a dead giveaway to have blue ink on your nose. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-from-pull-tabs-on-soda-to-those-things-that-bend-in/609953.md?page=4)