'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol problem however players "require to understand the time to have a drink and the time not to", says previous England captain Alec Stewart.


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


The England and Board investigated reports of gamers drinking excessively during a mid-series journey to Noosa, while white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub 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, presently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be entirely teetotal, but people require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to.


"The higher level you are, the more analysis you're under and therefore the sacrifices are greater and for that reason be really selective 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 new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides support to present and previous players and their households around their health and wellbeing.


He was likewise recommended as a prospective candidate to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be offered 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 actually launched a brand-new report to outline its work, including providing mental health support to 239 current and previous expert cricketers over the previous five years. There has actually been a 33% increase in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report referrals eight cases of gamers entering into "property rehabilitation" - getting treatment in expert facilities at which they can stay for an amount of time supported economically by the trust - for numerous problems including to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gambling and compound abuse.


Discussing the high-profile discussion around alcohol this winter, previous batter Ian Thomas who now works 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 everyday life in society, however there is a responsibility for professional athletes and cricketers to make the ideal options at the ideal times and that's what our education was about.


"We're still going to have individuals make the wrong choices and we're still going to have human mistake.


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


The report states over half of the problems affecting players associate with low mood, anxiety and psychological support.


"We've got to make certain the assistance mechanisms remain in location which people are not afraid to actually put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart stated.


"It's always been there. It always will exist since it's such a result-based company. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."


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