‘The Challenge’ Rules: Fines, Drink Regulations and More

Credit: MTV

'The Challenge’ Rules: Fines, Drink Regulations and More

It may be unpredictable, but even The Challenge has rules and regulations that the cast must follow. The MTV hit series, which launched in 1998, initially followed past members of The Real World and Road Rules, creating teams and competitions that gave the contestants a chance to take home cash prizes. Over the years, the show has brought in stars from a plethora of other reality shows — and from across the world. Yet, some things remain the same. For example, the cast is allowed to party while in the house and consume alcohol — but not before competing. Contestants would "probably get kicked off the show" if they showed up to a Challenge drunk, vet Chris "C.T." Tamburello told Rolling Stone magazine in 2018. "That's a liability. We do these crazy stunts where we're hanging above a tall building on harnesses," he added. "You can't be doing that if you're drunk." [jwplayer dzEJoeID] While there wasn't a limit on how many drinks each cast member could have, that changed a bit in 2021. While filming season 37, the cast were given drink tickets for the first time ever, contestant Cory Wharton said on the "Watch With Us" podcast ahead of the premiere. “It was wild this season," he said. "I hope we can find a better system, but we were like kids at a carnival. We had drink tickets! Once your drink tickets ran out, no more drinks for you." Respect is one of the most important parts of living in the house — and can affect everything. In March 2021, host TJ Lavin noted that the way he treats certain competitors is directly related to how they react to others. “How they treat the crew really matters to me. If somebody’s really bad with the crew and I see that then I’m a little bit different toward them. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s what kind of person you are? OK. We’ll see how it is,'” the Nevada native told Us at the time. “I don’t deal with that at all, and I’m not cool with that at all. I think I probably get that from the showrunner that I’ve known my whole life, Justin Booth. And he’s very big on letting the whole crew first, and he’s very big on treating the crew with a lot of compassion. Basically, all you have to do is be respectful.” When it comes to meals, cast members can put any food they want in the house on a grocery list and production will deliver it. They also have catering, which brings in breakfast, lunch and dinner regularly. “If you're not there for it, you miss the meal,” the Teen Mom OG star added. Scroll through the gallery below for more Challenge rules and regulations: [podcast_block]

Credit: MTV

What Is Banned From the House?

Contestants can't bring any type of entertainment into the house. TVs, cellphones, radios, puzzles and books are banned and the cast is intensely searched before getting into the house. That said, during one season, they were allowed to watch the Super Bowl!

Producers closely monitor any vitamins or protein shakes brought in, making sure that nothing that could be viewed as unfair performance enhancers is admitted. Wharton told Us in 2021 that protein powder is now allowed.

Credit: Karen Epstein Photography

Can You Get Fined?

Contestants can — and have — been fined up to $25,000 for sneaking a cellphone into the house. For a long time, the rule was that each cast member would get two 10-minute phone calls a week, which were closely monitored by production. In 2021, Wharton told Us that cast members now only get 10 minutes a week on a video call, which can be used in one sitting or cut up into two different calls.

Credit: MTV

What About Drinks?

While in the house or at bars, players are allowed to order beer, wine and “the occasional” fifth of vodka — dyed blue so they "can’t hide it in water bottles," Cara Maria Sorbello told Us in 2018. When out of the house, the cast pays for their own drinks. Security is ready and waiting in case necessary and producers are keeping an eye to make sure no one is consuming too much.

In July 2021, Wharton shared with Us that drink tickets were put into play during season 37.

Credit: Paramount+

Avoiding Spoilers

"The cast understands that [leaking spoilers] only hurts them because if the ratings go down, the show potentially won't come back," cocreator Jonathan Murray told Rolling Stone in 2018. "But we do have fines and penalties that come into effect if they release information, and we have serious talks about it."