'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol problem however gamers "need to comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to", says former England captain Alec Stewart.


Discussion around drinking dominated this Ashes series in Australia with the behaviour of England's gamers greatly scrutinised during their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.


The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of gamers consuming exceedingly throughout 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 improve anyone's performance so this is why the education is so essential," said Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to just live like monks and be entirely teetotal, however individuals need to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to.


"The greater level you are, the more scrutiny you're under and for that reason the sacrifices are greater and therefore be really selective in what you take 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 wellbeing.


He was likewise suggested as a possible prospect to replace England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated 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 launched a new report to describe its work, consisting of offering psychological health assistance to 239 current and former professional cricketers over the past five years. There has been a 33% increase in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report references eight cases of players going into "property rehab" - getting treatment in expert centers at which they can stay for a time period supported financially by the trust - for numerous problems consisting of to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gambling and drug abuse.


Speaking about the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter season, 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's in daily life in society, but there is a responsibility for athletes and cricketers to make the right options at the right times and that's what our education was about.


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


"The biggest part for us if that does take place is that we're able to choose them up."


The report says majority of the problems affecting players connect to low state of mind, anxiety and psychological assistance.


"We've got to make certain the support mechanisms remain in place which people are not scared to in fact put a hand up and state I'm struggling," Stewart said.


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


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