With a unique take on political polling, the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, a Texas-based bar chain, is making headlines as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Known for its wide selection of craft beers, the Flying Saucer has been selling commemorative election glasses since 2004, turning their sales data into a surprisingly accurate predictor of the presidential elections.
While it may seem lighthearted, the bars’ sales data may hold some significance.
Since 2004, the Flying Saucer’s unofficial poll has accurately forecasted the presidential winner four out of five times. Only during the 2020 election, when President Joe Biden defeated former President Trump, did the bar sell more Trump-themed glasses than usual, breaking its streak, reported The Dallas Morning News.
With just a day until voters head to the polls on November 5, the bar chain’s latest sales data shows that sales of glasses featuring Donald Trump are outpacing those for Kamala Harris.
As of November 3, Flying Saucer’s bars have reported selling 3,824 Trump glasses and koozies compared to 2,155 for Harris. However, per the DMN, if you combine Harris’ sales with the 1,691 Biden glasses still in circulation, the Democratic side edges ahead with 3,846 units, only 22 more than Trump.
The chain first ordered thousands of glasses for Joe Biden, only to pivot mid-summer when he announced his withdrawal from the race. The bars then quickly adapted, introducing Harris merchandise, which is now being sold alongside discounted Biden glasses that the chain has deemed “collector’s items.”
The prices for the election glasses remain at $22, with various combination packs available for those looking to commemorate the election season. According to the Flying Saucer website, a box set featuring Trump and Biden is offered for $35, while the set of Trump and Harris glasses runs $40.
The tradition of selling commemorative glasses has become a presidential election staple at Flying Saucer.
Regular patrons, known as “beer knurds,” often reminisce on past glass designs, which have included everything from regular holiday themes to nods to different cultural or political moments, like this year’s “Turkey of the Year” featuring the now-incarcerated crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried.
As the Presidential election approaches, eyes are on the Flying Saucer once more to see if its unorthodox polling method will prove accurate.