An automated stopper and opener includes: a sleeve housing that is able to fit within a neck of a container; a mechanical feature that is able to vary a force applied to an internal surface of the sleeve such that a seal is able to be formed or released within the neck of the container; and an electronic controller that is able to manipulate the force applied to the internal surface of the sleeve by at least partly directing operations of the mechanical feature. An automated stopper includes: a cylindrical sleeve; a mechanical element that fits within the cylindrical sleeve and has a variable outer diameter; a communication interface that is able to receive commands from a user device; and a controller that is able to interpret the received commands and direct the mechanical element to control the variable outer diameter. A system includes automated stoppers and a user device.