A Pittsburgh brewing company introduced the first self-opening beer can, later associated with pull-tab packaging. This removed the need for a separate opener and changed the everyday ritual of drinking canned beer.

The introduction of the self-opening beer can in 1962 became emblematic of post-war consumer culture, appearing in popular songs and fiction. Poets like Allen Ginsberg and Sylvia Plath utilized such imagery to critique and reflect on the changing landscapes of American life.