'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'
ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist
19 February 2026
Cricket does not have an alcohol issue 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 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 players consuming exceedingly during a mid-series trip 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 improve anybody's performance so this is why the education is so crucial," stated Stewart, presently director of at Surrey.
"People aren't going to just live like monks and be completely teetotal, however individuals need to comprehend 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 revealed as the new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides assistance to existing and former players and their families around their health and health and wellbeing.
He was likewise recommended as a potential candidate to replace England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be given 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, including providing mental health assistance to 239 present and former expert cricketers over the previous five years. There has actually been a 33% boost in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report recommendations 8 cases of gamers entering into "property rehabilitation" - getting treatment in professional facilities at which they can stay for a time period supported economically by the trust - for numerous concerns consisting of to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gambling and compound abuse.
Discussing the prominent conversation around alcohol this winter, 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 an obligation for professional athletes and cricketers to make the best options at the correct times which's what our education had to do with.
"We're still going to have people make the incorrect options and we're still going to have human error.
"The greatest part for us if that does happen is that we're able to choose them up."
The report says majority of the problems impacting players associate with low mood, anxiety and emotional assistance.
"We've got to make certain the assistance systems are in location which individuals are not afraid to really put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart stated.
"It's constantly existed. It constantly will be there due to the fact that it's such a result-based company. This is where you've got to get the balance."
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