'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol problem however players "need to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to", states former England captain Alec Stewart.


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


The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of gamers consuming exceedingly during a mid-series journey 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 anybody's performance so this is why the education is so essential," said Stewart, presently director of at Surrey.


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


"The greater level you are, the more analysis you're under and for that reason the sacrifices are greater and therefore be extremely selective in what you take into your body, whether that is food, whether that is drink or whatever."


'Conversation needed over cricket drinking culture'


9 January


Stewart was speaking after being announced as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which supplies assistance to present and previous gamers and their households around their health and wellbeing.


He was also recommended as a potential prospect to replace England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be provided the opportunity to improve England's fortunes.


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


The charity has released a brand-new report to outline its work, including providing mental health assistance to 239 current and previous expert cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has actually 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 rehabilitation" - getting treatment in professional centers at which they can stay for an amount of time supported economically by the trust - for various issues consisting of to alcohol, stress and anxiety, betting and substance 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've continued to strive on the education front.


"It's something that remains in daily life in society, however there is a duty for athletes and cricketers to make the best choices at the correct times which's what our education was about.


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


"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 concerns affecting gamers relate to low state of mind, stress and anxiety and emotional assistance.


"We have actually got to make sure the support systems are in location and that people are not afraid to in fact put a hand up and state I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.


"It's always existed. It always will exist since it's such a result-based service. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."


Cricket


Get cricket news sent directly to your phone