'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 "need 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 season's Ashes series in Australia with the behaviour of England's players heavily scrutinised during their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.
The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of gamers drinking exceedingly during a mid-series trip 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 performance so this is why the education is so essential," stated Stewart, presently 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 beverage and the time not to.
"The greater level you are, the more examination you're under and therefore the sacrifices are greater and therefore be really selective in what you take into your body, whether that is food, whether that is beverage or whatever."
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Stewart was speaking after being announced as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which offers assistance to existing and former players and their families around their health and wellness.
He was also recommended as a potential candidate to replace England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be offered the possibility to improve England's fortunes.
Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be replaced.
The charity has actually launched a new report to outline its work, consisting of offering psychological health support to 239 present and former expert cricketers over the past 5 years. There has actually been a 33% increase in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report referrals eight cases of players entering into "domestic rehab" - receiving treatment in expert facilities at which they can remain for an amount of time supported financially by the trust - for various issues consisting of to alcohol, stress and anxiety, betting and drug abuse.
Speaking about the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter, former 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, however there is a responsibility for professional athletes and cricketers to make the right 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 most significant part for us if that does occur is that we have the ability to select them up."
The report says majority of the gamers relate to low state of mind, stress and anxiety and psychological assistance.
"We have actually got to make certain the support systems remain in place and that people are not scared to actually put a hand up and state I'm having a hard time," Stewart stated.
"It's always existed. It always will exist because it's such a result-based service. This is where you've got to get the balance."
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