'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", says previous 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 throughout 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 anybody's efficiency so this is why the education is so important," stated Stewart, presently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be totally teetotal, but individuals require to understand the time to have a drink and the time not to.
"The higher level you are, the more scrutiny you're under and for that reason the sacrifices are higher 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 brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which supplies assistance to present and former gamers and their families around their health and wellbeing.
He was also suggested as a possible prospect to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated 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 new report to outline its work, including providing psychological health assistance to 239 present 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 8 cases of players entering into "domestic rehabilitation" - getting treatment in expert facilities at which they can remain for a duration of time supported financially by the trust - for various concerns consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, gambling and drug abuse.
Discussing the prominent discussion around alcohol this winter, former batter Ian Thomas who now operates at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee stated: "We have actually continued to work hard on the front.
"It's something that remains in everyday life in society, but there is a duty for athletes and cricketers to make the best options at the ideal times and that's what our education was about.
"We're still going to have people make the wrong choices and we're still going to have human error.
"The biggest part for us if that does occur is that we have the ability to select them up."
The report says more than half of the problems impacting players connect to low state of mind, anxiety and psychological support.
"We have actually got to make certain the assistance systems are in location and that people are not afraid to really put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.
"It's always been there. It constantly will exist since it's such a result-based service. This is where you've got to get the balance."
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