Types of Glass and Bottle
A bottle is generally a small, rigid-walled container designed to store and transport liquid beverages and whose opening is generally sealed by an external cork, an inner stopper, a closure, a magnetic seal, or some other attractive means. Refilled, the bottles are usually marked with the date of manufacture, the label requiring the date of manufacture, batch number, or variety, and there may also be a printed code indicative of the contents of the bottle. The most common kinds of bottle are those manufactured out of glass, plastic, metal, ceramic, or porcelain, with the most common liquids being water, spirit, oil, and beer.
The primary purpose of a bottle is to preserve liquids for later use. Bottles are made for many purposes, including carrying liquids for a distance away from the point of sale, storing ready-to-drink drinks, protecting food from spoilage, and as vessels for serving drinks. The oldest bottles, dating from the ancient Egyptians, have a bottle made of clay. Today, the majority of bottles are manufactured out of plastic.
Most bottles are either colored to make them easy to identify, molded to carry drinks, or constructed entirely from solid materials such as glass or plastic, but not all liquids are equally resistant to storage in the bottle. Some substances are more suitable for being stored in metal or plastic containers than in glass. Water, for instance, should never be placed into a bottle made entirely of glass and should always be thoroughly tested by putting it into a glass of water prior to drinking. Some other liquids such as vinegar or mustard should never be combined with other substances. For those who regularly consume red wine, it is important to avoid mixing white wine with another kind of red wine, even if it is an inexpensive wine, since the acids in the white wine could ruin the quality of the red wine.
Plastic bottles are the most common form of packaging drinks. It is cheaper and easier to use, and can be used for all types of beverages. While plastic bottles may seem disposable, they are usually designed to be reusable. Many plastic bottles are dishwasher safe and can be used over again without losing any flavor or color.
A unique type of bottle are the hot drink bottles. They were originally created to carry tea or coffee to people on camping trips. They are generally insulated to keep the liquid warm or at room temperature for a longer period of time. Some hot water bottles are made of glass, which allows the person drinking the liquid to see how much liquid is remaining. This allows people to take their drink with them while hiking or camping, instead of just relying on the thermostat in their hotel room.
While glass and plastic bottles are commonly used to carry various liquids, there are some special types of bottle that can only be used for certain beverages. Beer bottles, for example, can only be used to carry light beers. In many countries, smoking is strictly prohibited, and people prefer to keep their beverages cold or warm to ensure that they do not become addicted to them. Wine is another type of bottle that cannot be carried around by individuals who are smoking, as it is considered to be an alcoholic beverage.
