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Warning: Champagne Popping Is More Dangerous Than You Might Think

Dec. 20, 2012 10:09am Liz Klimas

Tips for Uncorking Champagne Safely This Holiday

Ophthalmologists would not approve of this waiter’s popping technique. (Image: Shutterstock.com)

You might have heard the warning before that popping of a pressurized champagne cork can cause injury, but a group of ophthalmologists are reaffirming this warning as holiday celebrations get underway, saying opening a bottle of bubbly improperly could lead to blinding injuries.

According to Science Daily, the pressure behind the cork is more than that of most car tires, at 90 pounds per square inch. The cork can shoot out as fast as 50 miles per hour.

The website for the American Academy for Ophthalmology — Get EyeSmart — says it shoots out fast enough to shatter a glass. They have the video to prove it (Note: the glass breaking action starts at 2:16):

“When a champagne cork flies, you really have no time to react and protect your delicate eyes,” Dr. Monica L. Monica, an ophthalmologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said in a statement. “Uncontrolled champagne corks can lead to painful eye injuries and devastating vision loss. We don’t want anyone to end up ringing in the year on an ophthalmologist’s surgery table.”

With that in mind, the academy issued some cork popping tips:

Chill sparkling wine and champagne to 45 degrees Fahrenheit or colder before opening. The cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.
Don’t shake the bottle. Shaking increases the speed at which the cork leaves the bottle thereby increasing your chances of severe eye injury.
To open the bottle safely, hold down the cork with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood. Point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and any bystanders.
Place a towel over the entire top of the bottle and grasp the cork.
Keep the bottle at a 45-degree angle as you slowly and firmly twist the bottle while holding the cork to break the seal. Continue to hold the cork while twisting the bottle. Continue until the cork is almost out of the neck. Counter the force of the cork using slight downward pressure just as the cork breaks free from the bottle.
Never use a corkscrew to open a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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Comments (17)

macpappy
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 5:57pm
Stupid story # 5.
The Blaze editors think the posters are stupid.

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Winedude
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:24pm
Wow, this is a seriously OLD story. I first got into the wine biz over 40 years ago and this was a story for New Year’s Eve clear back in ’71.
Rather than ban Champagne, everyone should travel with a bottle for personal protection.

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- Battle1925
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 3:45pm
  Yea robber comes in house pop “robber down robber down he’s gone Johnny he’s gone we can’t save him” sob sob
  
  Report this comment
moreteaplease
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:20pm
JD Carp
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:37am

Has America become this stupid?
__________________________________

Well, look who they voted into office for a second term.

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AmericanStrega
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:07pm
I was once a “victim” of a champagne cork. I didn’t sue since the uncorker was my husband and I figured if I sued him I’d loose half my loot in the lawsuit. Baa,ha,ha. But all kidding aside. I got one he.l.l of a shiner from that cork. I did learn a lesson though: Never stand in the line of fire of a husband (or other person) while said husband or other person is opening a bottle of champagne. (My husband now places a tea towel over the top of the bottle and I stand behind him). :)

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:22pm
  What makes you think it was accidental? Might have been payback… just kidding.
  
  Report this comment
KingCanon
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 11:34am
Yaaaawwwwnnnnnnn.

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rfycom
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:55am
Just ask Beck. He pops a cork on a bottle of champaign every day after work. He toasts to himself. Pats himself on the back and counts his money.

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- ResistSocialism
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:58am
  yea Becks a despicable money grabbing sob ain’t he. Horrible guy that Beck. Oh wait that’s Obama. My bad.
  
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JD Carp
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:37am
Has America become this stupid?

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- ResistSocialism
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:41am
  yes
  
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LakeHartwellSailor
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:37am
This is unacceptable! I DEMAND a ban on Assault Wines!!! Seriously, who really needs champaign? I think regular wine (non-carbinated) is more than adequate for the citizens of this country. Champaign is a wine that indiscriminately harms our citizens…our children. If champaign were to become illegal, we could virtually wipe out blindness.

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- SoNick
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 3:17pm
  at least learn to write it properly: Champagne, from the French regio of the same name.
  
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kaydeebeau
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:25am
Thus the reason I use a pair of pliers to hold onto and slow pull out a cork on a bottle of champagne

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TEIN
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:15am
DON’T OPE THE BOTTLE RALPHIE!!!….you might put your eye out!!!

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TEIN
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:14am
LoL..DON’T OPEN THE BOTTLE RALPHIE!!!

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ResistSocialism
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:13am
These Champagne corks obviously need to be banned. Michael Bloomberg will come to the rescue.

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