Daniel Thompson
Jan 01, 2024 - 06:35

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen take shots of tequila on CNN's New Year's Eve Live

Booze is back on New Year's Eve with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, taking shots and vowing to drink more.

It's that time of year again, and the booze is back on the televised New Year's Eve celebration featuring Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. After a dry spell last year, the hosting duo wasted no time in getting the party started during CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" above New York City's Times Square.

Cohen, a seven-time host, wasted no time in getting the drinks flowing, declaring it's time for a toast at the top of the hour. Cooper, on the other hand, initially insisted he hadn't brought any alcohol with him. However, Cohen had other plans and pulled out a bottle of tequila and shot glasses, and both took shots, with Cooper making his annual gross-out face after his alcohol intake.

To add to the festivities, the duo vowed to take a shot after each hour, making for a lively and entertaining broadcast. This is a stark contrast to last year when then CEO Chris Licht announced that CNN would be cutting back on the New Year's Eve drinking that has become a staple of Anderson and Cohen's annual broadcast. In 2022, Cohen and Cooper agreed to drink non-alcoholic beverages on the air, such as pickle juice, in compliance with the new rules.

However, the dry era has come to an end, and the boozy tradition is back in full swing. As the night went on, Cooper's reaction to the tequila shots became less dramatic, and he even remarked that it was getting easier. This change in tone and the return of alcohol to the broadcast added a sense of excitement and spontaneity to the evening.

The decision to bring back the alcohol also sparked some humor, with Cooper questioning why people even engage in this kind of drinking. The return of the booze to the New Year's Eve celebration with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen brought back the fun and lightheartedness that viewers have come to expect from the dynamic hosting duo. With the drinks flowing and the energy high, it was a memorable and entertaining way to ring in the new year. Cheers to that!