'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'
ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist
19 February 2026
Cricket does not have an alcohol problem however players "require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to", says former Alec Stewart.
Discussion around drinking controlled 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 examined reports of players consuming excessively during a mid-series journey 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 improve anyone's performance so this is why the education is so crucial," stated Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be totally teetotal, but people require to comprehend the time to have a beverage and the time not to.
"The higher level you are, the more examination you're under and therefore the sacrifices are higher and for that reason be really selective in what you put 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 supplies support to present and previous players and their households around their health and wellness.
He was also recommended as a potential prospect to replace England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be given the chance 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 brand-new report to describe its work, consisting of providing psychological health support to 239 existing and previous expert cricketers over the previous five years. There has been a 33% increase in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report references 8 cases of players going into "residential rehabilitation" - receiving treatment in professional centers at which they can stay for a time period supported economically by the trust - for numerous problems including to alcohol, anxiety, gaming and compound 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 said: "We've continued to strive on the education front.
"It's something that's in everyday life in society, however there is an obligation for professional athletes and cricketers to make the ideal options at the right times which's what our education had to do with.
"We're still going to have individuals make the incorrect options and we're still going to have human error.
"The most significant part for us if that does occur is that we're able to select them up."
The report says over half of the concerns impacting players associate with low state of mind, anxiety and psychological assistance.
"We've got to make sure the assistance systems are in place which individuals are not scared to in fact put a hand up and say I'm struggling," Stewart said.
"It's constantly existed. It always will be there because it's such a result-based service. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."
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