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Specifically, when the writing - such as an expiration date - is printed in dot matrix style across the line between the bottle cap and the bottle cap's ring, what are the issues involved in opening such a bottle?
(Differs from this question about soda cans.)
In Shulchan Aruch (O"Ch siman 340) is mentioned that there is an argument if one is prohibited from opening books with writing on it. The reason to be lenient is because one doesn't really do an "action" as the letters are pre-written, you just bring them closer or further from each other. (The Shulchan Aruch HaRav says that the custom is to be lenient).
According to the side that says it is prohibited to open books with writing on Shabbos, it would appear that bottles should be opened before Shabbos.
However, the Yalkut Yosef permits it because opening a can is a Psik Reisha Dlo Nicha Lei (One doesn't care to have the letters erased) in a Derrabannan case (only erasing for the purpose of writing is from the Torah).
However, it is still possible that according to the Shu"a Harav it would still be prohibited to open soda bottles, as a soda cap may be considered one entity with the ring (when it is closed), and opening it may be considered erasing, while in the book it was never on one surface.
In the Mishna Brura, it writes that it is forbidden to write and erase any language. Therefore, one could say that a letter made from dots is the same letter with a different "font" (just like braille would be the same letter with a different "font").
http://www.torahlab.org/calendar/article/kosev_writing_on_shabbos/ mentions that writing in braille is prohibited.
R. Abadi (in his tshuvos Ohr Yitzchak) concludes that destroying any type of writing on Shabbos (mocheik) is only forbidden when it is destroying for the purpose of writing. But if the destruction is purely destructive, not for the purpose of further writing, then it is permitted for any need on Shabbos (not just for eating)
Bottom line, Sefardim who follow R' Ovadia Yosef can open them. Others can't. See: http://doseofhalacha.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/opening-bottles-and-cans-on-shabbos.html
R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 9:17) writes that one mustn't open new bottles with metal screw lids, as doing so will make the lid into a kli. One may puncture the lid first, thus rendering it useless and then open the bottle as usual (See Emes L’yaakov OC 314:8). R’ Ribiat (39 Melochos p841) writes that if one has a spare lid, one may open the bottle and discard the lid. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 2:42) and R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 14:45) permit opening such bottles.
R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yalkut Yosef, Shabbos 2:p519) writes that one may open a bottle even if there is writing printed on the lid which will get broken, though R’ Neuwirth and others forbid it.While many are particular not to open plastic lids on Shabbos, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (quoted in Meor Hashabbos 6:4) allows it, as the cap was already made into a kli in production. One who doesn’t open bottles and cans on Shabbos shouldn't ask someone who usually does to do so for them, though if someone else opened it, they may drink from it (Igros Moshe OC 4:119:5).
Providing the tins are disposed of immediately after use, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Minchas Shlomo 2:12, Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 9:n10) and R’ Ovadia Yosef allow one to open them on Shabbos (See Igros Moshe OC 1:122). The Chazon Ish (OC 51:11) writes that by opening a tin, one is creating a kli which is an issur deoraisa.
Even those Poskim who allow opening bottles and tins on Shabbos write that one should ideally open them before Shabbos or puncture the lid (or bottom of the can) before opening them.
The letters were never formed, and as such it shouldn't be erasing to separate them. It's similar to those who hold you could erase Hashem's name from a computer screen because the pixels are just dots close together, and that doesn't count as writing.
edit: maybe assur d'rabanan
