'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'
ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist
19 February 2026
Cricket does not have an alcohol problem however gamers "require to understand the time to have a drink and the time not to", says former England captain Alec Stewart.
Discussion around drinking dominated 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 players drinking excessively during a mid-series trip 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 enhance anyone's efficiency so this is why the education is so important," said Stewart, presently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to just live like monks and be entirely teetotal, however people require to comprehend the time to have a beverage and the time not to.
"The greater level you are, the more scrutiny you're under and therefore the sacrifices are greater and for that reason be really selective in what you take into your body, whether that is food, whether that is beverage or whatever."
'Conversation needed over cricket drinking culture'
9 January
Stewart was speaking after being announced as the brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which offers assistance to present and former players and their households around their health and health and wellbeing.
He was also recommended as a possible prospect to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be provided 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 launched a brand-new report to describe its work, consisting of offering mental health assistance to 239 current and former expert cricketers over the past five years. There has actually been a 33% increase in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report recommendations 8 cases of gamers going into "residential rehabilitation" - receiving treatment in specialist centers at which they can remain for an amount of time supported economically by the trust - for various problems including to alcohol, stress and anxiety, betting and drug abuse.
Speaking about 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 said: "We've continued to work hard on the education front.
"It's something that remains in daily life in society, but there is an obligation for athletes and cricketers to make the right choices at the best 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 mistake.
"The greatest part for us if that does take place is that we're able to pick them up."
The report states more than half of the players relate to low state of mind, anxiety and psychological assistance.
"We have actually got to ensure the support mechanisms are in place and that people are not scared to in fact put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.
"It's constantly existed. It always will exist because it's such a result-based organization. This is where you've got to get the balance."
Cricket
Get cricket news sent out directly to your phone