Picture it: Zachary, 2024

I reach into a box of Polar seltzer water to have a nice little evening pick me up and BAM the can explodes the second my hand touches it. 

After checking to make sure I hadn't been sliced through by any aluminum shrapnel, I did what any middle-aged woman would in the situation: I contacted the manufacturer. They were quite nice, but I was a little concerned by the fact that their website seemed a little too prepared to take my exploding can related feedback. Could it be that this was something that just...happens?

Apparently, yes. Due to a global aluminum shortage canned beverage companies are being forced to reduce the amount of aluminum in their cans. That means a thinner can that is less tolerant of heat fluctuations.

It means more exploding cans.

"These cans can only handle so much heat," a representative from Polar explained to me. "If they're left for any amount of time in 90-100 degree heat, they might explode" She told me that she'd even heard of cans exploding on the drive home from the store. "I tell people to put all canned goods in the trunk just in case."

The problem extends far beyond seltzer water. Basically, anything carbonated is at risk of blowing its top. Beer, soda, kombucha. They've all been impacted by this aluminum shortage and had to make cutbacks to the thickness of their cans. 

So what can you do to make sure you're not the victim of a soda bomb? 

•  Don't store drinks in your garage or car. Make sure to keep them inside a climate-controlled space at all times. 
• Make sure the cans don't get too cold. Frozen cans explode too!
• Open cans for small children who might squeeze the can too hard

There's also an aluminum plant in Missouri that was closed at the beginning of the year that officials are desperately trying to reopen. Fingers crossed that something will happen soon so that drink bottlers can get back to making thicker cans that aren't ticking time bombs. In the mean time, I'll be aggressively reminding people not to leave drinks in their cars!