'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol problem but players "require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to", states previous England captain Alec Stewart.


Discussion around drinking controlled this winter's Ashes series in Australia with the behaviour of England's players heavily scrutinised during their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.


The England and Wales Cricket Board investigated reports of gamers consuming exceedingly during a mid-series trip to Noosa, while white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a club bouncer the night before a one-day match in New Zealand in November.


"Alcohol will not enhance anybody's performance so this is why the education is so important," said Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be completely teetotal, but people need to comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to.


"The greater level you are, the more analysis you're under and therefore the sacrifices are higher and therefore be really in what you put into your body, whether that is food, whether that is drink or whatever."


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Stewart was speaking after being revealed as the brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides support to current and previous gamers and their families around their health and wellness.


He was likewise suggested as a possible candidate to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be provided the chance to improve England's fortunes.


Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be replaced.


The charity has released a new report to outline its work, consisting of supplying psychological health assistance to 239 present and former expert cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has been a 33% boost in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report referrals eight cases of gamers entering into "residential rehab" - getting treatment in professional facilities at which they can stay for an amount of time supported financially by the trust - for numerous issues consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, gaming and drug abuse.


Speaking about the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter season, former batter Ian Thomas who now operates at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee said: "We have actually continued to strive on the education front.


"It's something that remains in daily life in society, however there is a duty for athletes and cricketers to make the ideal choices at the ideal times which's what our education was about.


"We're still going to have people make the incorrect choices and we're still going to have human error.


"The biggest part for us if that does occur is that we have the ability to choose them up."


The report says majority of the problems affecting gamers associate with low state of mind, anxiety and emotional assistance.


"We have actually got to make sure the assistance systems remain in place which people are not scared to really put a hand up and say I'm struggling," Stewart said.


"It's constantly existed. It always will be there because it's such a result-based business. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."


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