'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'
ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist
19 February 2026
Cricket does not have an alcohol problem but players "require to comprehend 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 gamers greatly scrutinised throughout their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.
The England and Wales Cricket Board investigated reports of gamers consuming exceedingly during a mid-series trip to Noosa, while white-ball captain Harry Brook was by a bar 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 essential," stated Stewart, presently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be totally teetotal, however individuals require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to.
"The higher level you are, the more scrutiny 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 drink or whatever."
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Stewart was speaking after being announced as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which supplies assistance to existing and former gamers and their families around their health and wellbeing.
He was likewise suggested as a possible prospect to replace England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be provided the chance to enhance 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 describe its work, consisting of supplying mental health support to 239 current and former expert cricketers over the previous five years. There has been a 33% increase in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report references eight cases of gamers entering into "domestic rehab" - receiving treatment in professional centers at which they can remain for a time period supported economically by the trust - for numerous concerns consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, gaming and substance abuse.
Speaking about the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter season, former batter Ian Thomas who now operates at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee said: "We have actually continued to work hard on the education front.
"It's something that remains in daily life in society, but there is a duty for professional athletes and cricketers to make the right options at the correct times and that's what our education was about.
"We're still going to have people make the incorrect choices and we're still going to have human error.
"The most significant part for us if that does take place is that we have the ability to select them up."
The report states more than half of the concerns impacting gamers relate to low mood, stress and anxiety and psychological assistance.
"We have actually got to make certain the support mechanisms are in place which individuals are not scared to in fact put a hand up and state I'm having a hard time," Stewart stated.
"It's constantly existed. It constantly will be there because it's such a result-based business. This is where you've got to get the balance."
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