I know they pretended to drink beer, but what did they actually drink? Was it apple juice or iced tea?

Most sources on the internet indicate that they drank "near beer" which is beer with little or no alcohol in it. Some sources say they put sea salt in it to make it foam up like real beer. It doesn't sound like something enjoyable to drink. If it makes you feel better according to writer Ken Levine "the Heineken's in the writers room were real"!

Imagine how George Wendt must have felt! It's probably the only thing he doesn't miss about his days on Cheers!

I'll second what Marvo said. A few years ago I read an official Cheers companion book that was published somewhere between the 4th and 5th seasons. In the chapter on George Wendt/Norm he says they started off with only the near-beer but it was quickly realized near-beer foam didn't show on camera.

So they put salt in the bottom of the glasses to give it a bigger head when poured out of the tap. And he did in fact note how terrible it tasted by making a quip like "people who think TV is all glamor have never had to drink this."

On the other hand, everybody appeared to be drunk when the cast appeared in front of the real Cheers Bar in Boston on The Tonight Show, the night the finale was telecast!:lol:

On the other hand, everybody appeared to be drunk when the cast appeared in front of the real Cheers Bar in Boston on The Tonight Show, the night the finale was telecast!:lol:
They were obviously drinking real alcohol that night!

On the other hand, everybody appeared to be drunk when the cast appeared in front of the real Cheers Bar in Boston on The Tonight Show, the night the finale was telecast!:lol:

Is that on YouTube? I'd like to watch it once I get to the end of the series (currently watching S6), but I've got a feeling my local network that airs Cheers won't re-run it when the time comes around :(

Is that on YouTube? I'd like to watch it once I get to the end of the series (currently watching S6), but I've got a feeling my local network that airs Cheers won't re-run it when the time comes around :(


On the evening of the Cheers finale, The Tonight Show was broadcast live from Boston in front of the real Cheers bar. Ted, Woody, Rhea, Kelsey, John, and George all appeared. It wasn't a part of Cheers, itself, but it sure would have made a nice "extra" on the dvd set.