The absence of a bottle opener can ruin any party. Unless, of course, you know how to hold the lighter for other benefits. Opening a beer bottle using a lighter requires only leverage. You just use one hand to hold the lighter firmly under the bottle cap, and the other hand to remove the bottle cap.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Removing the Bottle Cap
Step 1. Hold the bottle as close to the cap as possible using your non-dominant hand
Roll your index finger just under the lid, leaving only a small amount of space. The closer your finger is to the cap and can fit the rim of the lighter under the cap, the easier it will be to do this.
Your finger will be the fulcrum holding the lighter under the bottle cap. When you push the lighter down, your finger will keep it under the bottle cap until the cap comes off. So, the closer your finger is under the bottle cap, the better
Step 2. Attach the long bottom edge of the lighter under the bottle cap
Don't use rounded corners. Instead, use the long plastic edge from the bottom of the lighter and place it under the bottle cap. One side will rest on your left index finger, which is rolled around the mouth of the bottle (if you're right-handed).
The position of the lighter should be perpendicular to the beer bottle
Step 3. Hold the metal end of the lighter firmly
You should be able to push it down with a smooth, even thrust.
Step 4. Slide your fingers across the neck of the bottle so that the lighter is firmly clamped under the cap
Your finger will be the fulcrum that removes the bottle cap, so your finger must be strong.
Step 5. Push the lighter down quickly but firmly to remove the bottle cap
You will feel the lighter poke your finger slightly, but strong downward pressure will release the cap quickly. It's the same pressure and movement you'd use on a traditional bottle opener.
Slightly tilting the bottle toward the lighter may help. If this is done, then push the lighter parallel to the bottle to get the greatest power on the lighter
Method 2 of 3: Prying the Bottle Cap
Step 1. Hold the bottle body firmly with your non-dominant hand
Don't hold it too high and keep it away from your body, but still hold it firmly and firmly so it doesn't slip. Your dominant hand will grip the lighter, with your thumb gripping the top of the bottle, as you pry the cap off.
Step 2. Hold your lighter firmly in your grip so you only see 1.3 cm
You should hold the lighter firmly in your hand, with the bottom of the lighter protruding from the side of your thumb in your grip.
The lighter will align with the top of the center of your fist. In other words, the long side of the lighter will be level with your thumb
Step 3. Wrap your thumb around the mouth of the bottle
It sits directly under the cap of the bottle, providing enough pressure to hold the bottle as you remove the cap. The lighter will be on the side of the bottle opposite your thumb.
If you're right-handed, your hand will look slightly upside-down, like a small "e". The curved part below is your thumb, the hole above is the lighter on your finger. The bottle will be in the middle, in the arc between your thumb and your other finger
Step 4. Place the long side of the lighter under the bottle cap
The bottom edge of the lighter will pry the serrations of the bottle cap and push it up until it slides out of the bottle.
Do not use rounded corners of the lighter, as these surfaces are small and can come off easily
Step 5. Hold the bottle firmly as you push the cap up until it comes off with your lighter
Consider turning your fist up and away from the bottle. The hand underneath should hold the bottle as you push the bottle cap with the lighter. Turn your fist away from the bottle, leaving your thumb at the side, this will create enough twisting force to release the bottle cap.
Method 3 of 3: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Use more power, which is applied quickly, if only the lid is partially open
If only a small part of the lid is open, this means that you are not using enough power on the lighter. Just turn your bottle 180 degrees and try again-- you can usually remove the cap slowly if you've started on one side.
Step 2. Make sure your finger is directly under the lid if you feel you need more effort
If you find it difficult to remove the lid, then you are not creating enough fulcrum. Make sure your finger is directly under the lighter, allowing you to use the pedestal to remove the bottle cap.
Step 3. Tilt the bottle towards the lighter if the lighter keeps coming off the bottle cap
Align the side of the bottle with the lighter so that the "teeth" of the bottle cap are in contact with the lighter as much as possible. If you do this correctly, you will leave nicks and tooth marks on the plastic of the lighter.
Step 4. Try other methods if you still can't remove the lid
Luckily, there are various ways to open a bottle cap that don't require a lighter.
- Use the door by placing the lid on the door frame (the part of the metal box that keeps the door closed) and applying downward force to remove the bottle cap.
- Use a ring.
- Use old CDs.
Tips
- Instead of prying around the bottle cap, optimize your technique by drying your hands and wiping off any moisture on the bottle.
- Use the joint of your index finger as a fulcrum. It can give a champagne opening style with a "pop" sound and the bottle cap floats more than 3 meters in the air (from the bottle). This is a fun party trick.
- Use the second bone from the tip of your index finger, as the muscle is quite strong.
Warning
- Do not strangle the lighter on the bottle and do not push the lighter on the bottle. If you do so and the lighter doesn't remove the bottle cap on the first try, you can scratch your fist with the bottle cap.
- Once you've learned this trick, you'll be able to open a beer bottle with just about anything. Do not use a metal object to open the bottle cap this way, as this may damage the mouth of the bottle, and may scratch the drinker's lips with shards of glass.
