'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol problem but gamers "need 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 during a mid-series journey 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 improve anyone's performance so this is why the education is so important," stated Stewart, presently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to just live like monks and be completely teetotal, however individuals 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 very 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 announced as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides assistance to present and previous gamers and their households around their health and wellbeing.


He was also suggested as a potential prospect to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be offered the possibility to enhance England's fortunes.


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


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


The report references eight cases of gamers entering into "residential rehabilitation" - receiving treatment in specialist centers at which they can stay for an amount of time supported economically by the trust - for numerous problems consisting of to alcohol, stress and anxiety, betting and drug abuse.


Discussing the prominent 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 work hard on the education front.


"It's something that's in everyday life in society, but there is a responsibility for professional athletes and cricketers to make the right options at the correct times which's what our education had to do with.


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


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


The report says over half of the issues impacting gamers connect to low mood, anxiety and .


"We have actually got to make certain the assistance systems remain in location which individuals are not afraid to in fact put a hand up and say I'm struggling," Stewart stated.


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


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