The Reason Love Island Uses Metal Champagne Flutes

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Reality dating shows continue to captivate viewers, with "Love Island" being one of the programs at the forefront of the revitalized genre. The show that exposed the ugliest slang term for spaghetti bolognese to United States' viewers is beloved due to its funny moments, constant drama, and big personalities. But one burning question many people have is, "What's with the golden glasses?"

For those unaware, golden Champagne flutes made of metal are used on "Love Island" for drinks the contestants enjoy while on-screen. Even though they may not be the wine glasses a master sommelier would choose, there's actually a good reason for the unique glassware: The opaque metal flutes prevent viewers from seeing exactly what beverage each contestant is drinking and how much of it they have left.

By hiding the drink in question, editors can make important cuts and splice scenes together without being concerned about the continuity of how much each individual has drunk from their cup. Furthermore, because contestants are often drinking water during shooting rather than an alcoholic beverage — of which they're reportedly only permitted two per night — not knowing exactly what's in their cup allows the show to give off the impression that the contestants are drinking alcohol (a staple of reality television) even when they're not.

While the iconic golden Champagne flutes have become synonymous with "Love Island," the use of golden glasses in reality dating shows actually originated in the first season of "Love Is Blind." While some have speculated that the choice to use metal glassware was to prevent contestants from breaking them, the creator of the Netflix hit, Chris Coelen, said it was initially done to set "Love is Blind" apart from other reality shows. 

"It's something I like. When you turn on the show, you know it's our show," Coelen explained in an interview with Today, adding later that the golden goblets act as a through line in the series. "I like the fact that we have this sort of connective tissue with that in a really light way; it's fun," he said.

The metal cups seen on "Love Is Blind" have lost that uniqueness over the years, and reality television fans are still quick to call the metallic glasses and flutes tacky or distracting. Despite it all, they have still become one of the most iconic motifs of reality dating shows.