'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'
ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist
19 February 2026
Cricket does not have an alcohol problem however gamers "require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to", says former England captain Alec Stewart.
Discussion around drinking controlled this winter's Ashes series in 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 gamers drinking 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 anyone's performance so this is why the education is so crucial," said Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be entirely teetotal, but people require to comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to.
"The higher level you are, the more examination you're under and therefore the sacrifices are greater and therefore be extremely 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 brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides support to present and former players and their households around their health and wellbeing.
He was likewise recommended as a potential candidate to replace England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is expected to be offered the chance to improve England's fortunes.
Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be replaced.
The charity has launched a brand-new report to outline its work, consisting of supplying mental health assistance to 239 current and previous expert cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has actually been a 33% boost in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report references 8 cases of gamers entering into "domestic rehabilitation" - receiving treatment in professional facilities at which they can stay for a time period supported financially by the trust - for numerous issues consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, gambling and compound abuse.
Speaking about the high-profile 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 have actually continued to strive on the education front.
"It's something that's in daily life in society, but there is an obligation for professional athletes and cricketers to make the ideal options at the right times and that's what our education had to do with.
"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 happen is that we're able to select them up."
The report says majority of the problems impacting players associate with low mood, anxiety and emotional assistance.
"We've got to make sure the support mechanisms are in place which individuals are not scared to really put a hand up and say I'm struggling," Stewart stated.
"It's always existed. It always will be there since it's such a result-based organization. This is where you've got to get the balance."
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