'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", says previous England captain Alec Stewart.


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


The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of gamers drinking exceedingly throughout a mid-series trip to Noosa, while white-ball Brook was punched by a bar 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 crucial," stated Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.


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


"The higher level you are, the more analysis you're under and therefore the sacrifices are higher and therefore be really 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 revealed as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides assistance to present and previous players and their families around their health and health and wellbeing.


He was also recommended as a prospective candidate to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be offered the opportunity to enhance England's fortunes.


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


The charity has actually released a new report to describe its work, including offering mental health assistance to 239 current and former professional cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has been a 33% increase in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report referrals 8 cases of players entering into "domestic rehabilitation" - receiving treatment in expert centers at which they can remain for a duration of time supported economically by the trust - for different problems including to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gambling and compound abuse.


Discussing the high-profile discussion around alcohol this winter season, previous batter Ian Thomas who now operates at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee stated: "We have actually continued to work hard on the education front.


"It's something that's in daily life in society, but there is an obligation for athletes and cricketers to make the right options at the ideal times which'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're able to pick them up."


The report states majority of the concerns impacting players associate with low mood, stress and anxiety and emotional support.


"We've got to make certain the support mechanisms are in location which people are not afraid to really 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 service. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."


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