For most caps yes. But have you encountered poorly manufactured ones, that are essentially defective, require vices and power tools?
Not yet. Though my older spouse (who is still recovering from a broken dominant wrist) has run into the strength problem.
Apparently even the prez had troubles with those safety caps. Bob Woodward said Richard Nixon asked presidential aide Stephen Bull to open a pill bottle for him. Bull noticed the container had teeth marks where Nixon had apparently tried to chew his way into the container. Funny thing is Nixon signed the bill in 1970 that ordered the use of child-proof containers. IIRC, Nixon would have been around 60 at the time of the alleged incident as he was born in 1913.
It's a bit strange on the childproof caps. I would expect there to be some sort of general standard? I have some very "dangerous" items and the special caps could be defeated by an infant (poetic license). While some marginally somewhat minor danger compounds arrive in a package that requires massive brain and brawn. kris
Pharmacy switched to caps that can be flipped for non-child proof use. Thing is the anti-tamper mechanism means there is a lip on the cap that can be uncomfortable to grip when flipped. Your pharmacy might have straight, non-anti-tamper caps available if you ask.
My understanding is that they are required to provide a non-CRC (non child resistant container) when requested.
Channel locks alone won’t cut it; you need simultaneous compression between the underside of child-proof cap and top of bottle, to hopefully mesh the internal teeth, paramount to achieve counterclockwise rotation of the actual cap. Coupling channel-locks (or self-locking pliers to dismiss the need for three hands) with a vice or hydraulic press, success (aka bottle opening), this may be achieved. Or the bottle walls may collapse, split open, and there you go, contents exposed and able to be pried out through the gaps. alternately: mount bottle upside down on lath style mechanism, bring cutter to bear to remove bottle bottom, pour contents into regular jar, spent jam or mustard jar for example, seems feasible. oh we’ll get there.