'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 comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to", says previous England captain Alec Stewart.
Discussion around drinking controlled this winter 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 throughout a mid-series journey 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 anyone's performance so this is why the education is so essential," said Stewart, presently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be completely teetotal, but people require to comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to.
"The higher 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 drink or whatever."
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Stewart was speaking after being revealed as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which supplies support to existing and previous players and their families around their health and wellbeing.
He was likewise recommended as a possible prospect to change England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be provided the possibility to improve England's fortunes.
Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be changed.
The charity has actually released a new report to outline its work, including supplying psychological health assistance to 239 present and former professional cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has been a 33% increase in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report references 8 cases of gamers going into "property rehabilitation" - getting treatment in specialist facilities at which they can remain for a time period supported economically by the trust - for different concerns including to alcohol, anxiety, betting and substance abuse.
Speaking about the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter season, former batter Ian Thomas who now works 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 remains in daily life in society, however there is a duty for athletes and cricketers to make the best options 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 happen is that we're able to choose them up."
The report says majority of the concerns affecting players connect to low mood, anxiety and emotional assistance.
"We have actually got to ensure the support systems are in place which people are not afraid to really put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.
"It's constantly been there. It constantly will exist due to the fact that it's such a result-based service. This is where you've got to get the balance."
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