'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'
ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist
19 February 2026
Cricket does not have an alcohol issue but gamers "require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to", says former 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 during their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.
The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of players drinking 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 enhance anyone's performance so this is why the education is so essential," stated Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to just live like monks and be totally teetotal, however individuals require to understand the time to have a drink and the time not to.
"The greater level you are, the more examination 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."
'Conversation required over cricket drinking culture'
9 January
Stewart was speaking after being announced as the brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides assistance to existing and previous players and their families around their health and wellbeing.
He was likewise recommended as a possible candidate to change England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be given the chance to improve England's fortunes.
Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be replaced.
The charity has released a brand-new report to describe its work, including providing mental health assistance to 239 current and previous professional cricketers over the previous five years. There has actually been a 33% boost in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report references eight cases of gamers going into "property rehab" - receiving treatment in professional centers at which they can stay for a period of time supported financially by the trust - for various concerns including to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gambling and drug abuse.
Discussing the prominent conversation 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've continued to work hard on the education front.
"It's something that's in daily life in society, but there is an obligation for professional athletes and cricketers to make the right choices at the correct times and that's what our education was about.
"We're still going to have people 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 choose them up."
The report states over half of the problems affecting gamers associate with low mood, anxiety and psychological assistance.
"We've got to ensure the assistance systems are in place and that individuals are not scared to in fact put a hand up and state I'm struggling," Stewart said.
"It's constantly been there. It always will exist since it's such a result-based company. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."
Cricket
Get cricket news sent directly to your phone