'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


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


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


The England and Wales Cricket Board investigated reports of gamers drinking excessively 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 anybody's efficiency so this is why the education is so essential," said Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be totally teetotal, however individuals need to comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to.


"The higher level you are, the more examination you're under and therefore the sacrifices are greater and for that reason be very 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 offers assistance to current and previous gamers and their families around their health and health and wellbeing.


He was also suggested as a potential candidate to replace England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be given 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 released a new report to describe its work, consisting of supplying mental health support to 239 existing and previous expert cricketers over the previous five years. There has been a 33% increase in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report recommendations 8 cases of gamers going into "property rehab" - receiving treatment in specialist facilities at which they can remain for a time period supported economically by the trust - for various concerns consisting of to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gaming and compound abuse.


Speaking about the high-profile discussion 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, but there is a duty for athletes and cricketers to make the ideal options at the correct times and that's what our education had to do with.


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


"The greatest part for us if that does happen is that we're able to pick them up."


The report states majority of the problems affecting gamers connect to low mood, anxiety and psychological assistance.


"We've got to ensure the support mechanisms are in location which people are not afraid to in fact put a hand up and state I'm struggling," Stewart said.


"It's always existed. It always will be there due to the fact that it's such a result-based business. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."


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