Keeping the cans cool
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You might have thought there’s nothing worse than having a warm sip of a supposed-to-be-cool drink, but now in the UK, drivers are being warned not to keep beverage cans in cars during the record-breaking temperatures.
According to the Express, unopened cans could pose a safety risk in stifling hot cars. A spokesperson for Select Car Leasing said: “When the sun’s energy enters the car and begins to heat solid objects, it begins to create what is called a greenhouse effect.
“Studies have found that an outdoors temperature of 22°C can cause a car to heat up to 47°C in the space of an hour.
“When objects are left in such a stifling heat it can cause damage to them and potentially your car.”
Damage here as in, a drinks can explosion causing mess and ruining the can, the inside of the car – and potentially the outside – if the driver is disturbed and distracted.
This is not to say that the product inside will be affected. The Express article notes that a (probably plastic) bottle of suncream left in extreme heat may alter the shelf life of the cream and therefore lessen its effectiveness against UV rays, however, aluminium is considered safe and canned liquids won’t be altered as a result of heat, so no knock-on affect to health, maybe just to the flavour of the drink. It all seems a bit ‘yeah, yeah, we know this,’ and the possibility of even a minor drinks can explosion seems rare, but I suppose it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
This all came after news that drivers face a fine of up to £1,000 for not staying properly hydrated and alert while on the road during the heatwave. So I guess the message here is, open your can and drink up before finishing the journey.
I think this is just more good rep for cans all in all, because it goes to show that drivers are sensibly opting for canned drinks during the heatwave.
Personally, I find they fit more comfortably in my cup holder anyway.
- Alex Rivers (she/her), CanTech International editor
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