CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — New Year’s Eve and plenty of other celebrations are synonymous with one thing — flying champagne corks. However, a new study is urging people to use extreme caution when they open a little bit of the bubbly. Researchers say bursting champagne corks could potentially lead to blindness as they strike revelers in the face, giving new meaning to the classic Christmas Story quote, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”
A team from the United States and the United Kingdom explains that the force of a flying cork can reach nearly 50 miles per hour, posing a potential risk of blindness if it hits someone right in the eye. Specifically, the pressure inside a 750-ml bottle of champagne or sparkling wine is approximately three times that of a standard car tire. This pressure can propel a cork up to 42 feet at speeds of up to 49.7 mph.
Furthermore, a cork can travel from the bottle to the eye in less than 0.05 seconds, rendering the natural blinking reflex ineffective in preventing injury. Consequently, a cork striking the eye can lead to serious injuries, including permanent blindness, retinal detachment, and lens dislocation, among other complications.
A 2005 study revealed that champagne bottle corks accounted for 20 percent of eye injuries related to bottle tops in the United States. While many individuals experienced improved vision post-injury, the study found that in 26 percent of these cases involving pressurized drinks, people suffered long-term legal blindness.
“These data emphasize the need for preventive measures, including warning labels and alternative packaging materials, such as a screw cap, to safeguard people,” the new study’s corresponding author, Ethan Waisberg, and his team write in The BMJ.
To mitigate the risk of eye injuries during champagne toasts, the team has released a set of recommendations for people popping open bottles this holiday season.
These tips include chilling the bottle before opening it, which helps to decrease both pressure and cork velocity. Additionally, they advise people to hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle, pointed away from themselves and others. To further ensure safety, counterbalance the upward force of the cork by firmly pressing down on it.
“Let us toast to an excellent new year, keep the bubbly in our glass, and the sparkle in our eyes,” the researchers conclude.
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