CNN Bans On-Air Drinking During New Year’s Eve Broadcasts — But A Few Hosts Get A Hall Pass

CNN’s new boss told staffers that on-air talent won’t be able to booze it up when the ball drops on Dec. 31 to ring in 2023, although the yearly shindig’s hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper will be exempt from the ban. Cheers to that?

 New CEO Chris Licht told employees at a town hall meeting told employees that on-camera drinking damaged CNN’s credibility in the eyes of viewers, according to a report from last year’s festivities. Now as a former TV on-air news personality covering red carpet entertainment events and all kinds of events from the Sundance Film Festival to the MTV Music Awards, I can’t ever remember a boss or company that said Hey it’s OK if you want to drink on air at the events where the booze is flowing. So maybe this is a good call CNN.

Find out who gets a hall pass for boozing it up in Times Square despite past New Year’s Eve embarrassments here: RIP Boozy CNN: Network Asks Reporters to Be Sober for New Year’s Eve Coverage | Decider