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Ryan Seacrest spoke in support of the decision.

This weekend, as they do every year, ABC will be broadcasting their New Year’s Rockin’ Eve television special, ringing in the new year with interviews, live musical performances, and a live broadcast of the signature Ball Drop in Times Square, New York. Most major news outlets will be on the scene covering the event, though one of them announced that there would be a little change to their procedure.

CNN announced recently that their staff members who will be covering the Ball Drop will not be permitted to drink any alcoholic beverages during the festivities, with the only exceptions being their main hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper. This decision follows some controversy during last year’s coverage, wherein staff members like Cohen and Don Lemon became visibly intoxicated on camera.

The host of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Ryan Seacrest, spoke in support of CNN’s decision, referencing Cohen’s comments last year painting the show unfavorably. “I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air,” Seacrest told Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t know how that started as a tradition, but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN. There’s some pretty respectable people — or at least one, right? I think there’s a serious journalist and then a friend of mine who has a lot of fun, but it’s probably a good idea. Although the viewers probably wish they would drink more.”

Ryan Seacrest supports CNN’s decision to scale back on alcohol during NYE broadcast https://t.co/lx6kxTbo9L

— The Independent (@Independent) December 28, 2022

“But I think they had something to say about my show at one point, which was I’m sure from the alcohol because I don’t think they would say what they said about our performers if they weren’t drinking. But, you know, I think our show’s a bigger, broader show, and we will not drink until 1:05 in the morning. Although I might send them some Casa Dragones tequila just to tempt them while they’re on the air.”