The “joyful effervescence” of champagne is often associated with celebration and the holiday season.
But with the pressure in a 750ml bottle sitting at about three times that of a standard car tyre, the rapid release of carbon dioxide gas can become a danger if not careful.
Eye specialists have looked at the dangers of champagne corks in the Christmas edition of the British Medical Journal.
In the report, they suggest the stopper can travel at speeds of up to 80km an hour, meaning it can hit the person's eye who is opening it in 0.5 seconds.
In research conducted in 2005, champagne bottle corks were responsible for 20% of eye injuries in the US and 70% in Hungary.
The report suggests public awareness campaigns about safety precautions when cracking open a bubbly may mitigate the risk of injuries.
That’s where “Uncork with Care” comes in – a public safety campaign from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which gives tips on how to avoid the potentially blinding eye injuries which occur every year.
In line with their research, the report suggests a six-step method to mitigate eye injuries.
- Chill the bottle before opening. Pressure reduces as the bottle cools, and as a result, cork velocity decreases. Avoid shaking the bottle before opening it for the same reason.
- Face the bottle away from others and yourself at a 45° angle before opening.
- Remove the wire cage (which could act as an additional projectile) carefully from the top of the bottle while pressing down on the cork with the palm of a hand.
- Place a towel over the top of the bottle and hold the cork firmly.
- Gently twist the bottle until the cork loosens.
- Counteract the upward-moving force of the cork by pressing down on it.
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