'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol issue but gamers "require to understand the time to have a drink and the time not to", says previous England captain Alec Stewart.


Discussion around drinking dominated this winter'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 Wales Cricket Board examined reports of players consuming excessively throughout a to Noosa, while white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bar bouncer the night before a one-day match in New Zealand in November.


"Alcohol will not improve anyone's performance so this is why the education is so essential," stated Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be entirely teetotal, but individuals require to understand 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 for that reason be very selective in what you take into your body, whether that is food, whether that is beverage or whatever."


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Stewart was speaking after being announced as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which offers support to current and former players and their households around their health and health and wellbeing.


He was also recommended as a possible prospect to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be provided the possibility to improve England's fortunes.


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


The charity has actually released a brand-new report to outline its work, including offering mental health support to 239 existing and previous professional cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has been a 33% increase in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report references 8 cases of players going into "residential rehabilitation" - getting treatment in professional centers at which they can remain for an amount of time supported economically by the trust - for different problems consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, betting and substance abuse.


Discussing the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter, previous batter Ian Thomas who now operates at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee stated: "We've continued to work hard on the education front.


"It's something that's in everyday life in society, however there is an obligation for athletes and cricketers to make the ideal options at the right times and that's what our education was about.


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


"The most significant part for us if that does occur is that we have the ability to select them up."


The report says over half of the issues affecting players relate to low state of mind, anxiety and psychological assistance.


"We've got to make sure the support mechanisms are in location which people are not scared to actually put a hand up and say I'm struggling," Stewart said.


"It's always been there. It always will be there because it's such a result-based company. This is where you've got to get the balance."


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