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Original poster

Is it just me or are soft drink bottle tops now rubbish?

49 replies

CraneBoysMysteries · 02/01/2023 15:09

Completely trivial, I realise. Over Christmas and New Year we did a lot of hosting and as such bought a variety of soft drinks-coke, fanta, sprite etc. We mainly bought 500ml bottles

Almost all of the tops were difficult to get off and left a sharp edge of plastic hanging off.

I thought maybe I was just unlucky

But I've just been to our local park cafe and bought a bottle and the same thing has happened

Is it just me or has something changed with the tops?

Is it just me or are soft drink bottle tops now rubbish?
OP posts:
roselune · 02/01/2023 15:12

You're not meant to take the top off any longer, it's something to do with recycling them together.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 02/01/2023 15:13

Yeah it's annoying but it's to encourage you to recycle the kids. I rip them off as they hit your nose otherwise when you're drinking.

ditalini · 02/01/2023 15:15

Yes, apparently you're meant to keep them on but, unlike when they redesigned drink cans, they've done a shit job of it.

Original poster
CraneBoysMysteries · 02/01/2023 15:15

roselune · 02/01/2023 15:12

You're not meant to take the top off any longer, it's something to do with recycling them together.

So are you supposed to leave the bottle cap attached to the ring around the neck and have it hanging off? So awkward to drink!

OP posts:
BenCoopersSupportWren · 02/01/2023 15:16

It’s not just you, they’ve reconfigured them into a weird hinge-type design which makes it really awkward to get the top back on without cross-threading it about six times first (IME).

reluctantbrit · 02/01/2023 16:07

The new tops are one reason I now buy cans or larger bottles I use drinking glasses with.

SpinningFloppa · 02/01/2023 16:09

Yes I hate the new lids

MaydinEssex · 02/01/2023 16:14

CraneBoysMysteries · 02/01/2023 15:09

Completely trivial, I realise. Over Christmas and New Year we did a lot of hosting and as such bought a variety of soft drinks-coke, fanta, sprite etc. We mainly bought 500ml bottles

Almost all of the tops were difficult to get off and left a sharp edge of plastic hanging off.

I thought maybe I was just unlucky

But I've just been to our local park cafe and bought a bottle and the same thing has happened

Is it just me or has something changed with the tops?

The 2 litre bottles have them too, I just snap them off as they are a struggle to put back on. I hope they realise the new lid style isn't very popular and go back to the old style.

AuntieJoyce · 02/01/2023 16:26

I’m glad you asked this OP and that someone has been able to answer it because it’s as annoying as fuck

Why are improvements so rarely improvements

Touchwood2 · 28/02/2024 17:02

I also find my. Lemonade goes flat very quickly with the new tops as well as being very difficult to get a good seal

Waitingfordoggo · 28/02/2024 17:04

Maybe it’s partly a ruse to get people to use less single-use plastic!

SirTarquin · 28/02/2024 18:15

They are terrible - especially for disabled people or elderly with weaker grip because they are shallower than the old lid and then you can't get it back on.

It annoys me every time I open one and I keep meaning to complain to the customer service line. This has reminded me about it and I think I will actually because it is a really terrible change.

I'm surprised that Age UK etc aren't up in arms about it. It's the same on mixer bottles of Schweppes tonic and soda water. I've take to removing the ring (which is dangerous itself) and cutting off the spikey attachment on the lid for my granny as she can't open them.

It doesn't acheive the object (keep them attached for recycling) as I detach them for her so she can open and close it herself.

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 28/02/2024 18:18

It's not about user convenience, it's to allow them to be recycled. Otherwise they drop through the sorting sieve.

NonoLePetitRobot · 28/02/2024 18:21

I really like the convenience of not having to hold the cap separately when out and about. A definite improvement for me.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/02/2024 18:26

It literally says it on the lid! 😂

KeiraKnightley2 · 28/02/2024 18:26

Yep. Now better for the environment but difficult to drink.

scotstarstrikestwo · 28/02/2024 18:49

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 02/01/2023 15:13

Yeah it's annoying but it's to encourage you to recycle the kids. I rip them off as they hit your nose otherwise when you're drinking.

This seems a little harsh in the kids 😅

daffodilandtulip · 28/02/2024 18:53

It started with the small bottles and that was annoying enough, but now it's on the bigger ones too. I can't get the damn things back on! And my council doesn't recycle properly anyway so who's it helping?!

FizzyStream · 28/02/2024 18:54

Yeah yours supposed to leave it attached. If you push them right back over the "hinge" for want of a better word, they do tend to stay put and not whack you in the nose. Pic of water bottle for illustration.

Is it just me or are soft drink bottle tops now rubbish?
ohspringblossom · 28/02/2024 19:24

I've had to buy a gadget, to help me get the tops off the San Pellegrino to which I am addicted to! I thought I had a few more years to go before buying "aids"

Tronkmanton · 28/02/2024 19:31

Yesterday I had a new lid trauma. I couldn’t properly do the lid up on a bottle of Coke Zero but thought it would be ok to put in the cup holder of my car. As I drove off it tipped over and spilt Coke in the other cup holder and all around it. They are awful.

MargaretThursday · 28/02/2024 19:43

They're really awkward for my dd who only has one hand.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 28/02/2024 19:46

As I found out last week they’re a pain in the backside when you’re driving down the motorway and need a quick gulp but there’s nobody else in the car to help!

CestLaVie123 · 28/02/2024 19:46

Agree OP, I hate the new tops, i take them off

notthesamename · 28/02/2024 19:49

I’m disabled, it makes it even harder to open and especially to close. On more than one occasion it’s caused me to spill/knock the bottle over.