'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 season's Ashes series in Australia with the behaviour of England's players heavily scrutinised throughout their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.
The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of players drinking excessively during 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 improve anybody's performance so this is why the education is so important," said Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.
"People aren't going to just 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 analysis 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 revealed as the brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which provides assistance to current and previous gamers and their families around their health and wellbeing.
He was also suggested as a potential candidate to replace England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be offered the possibility to enhance England's fortunes.
Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be changed.
The charity has actually launched a brand-new report to outline its work, including supplying mental health support to 239 existing and previous expert cricketers over the past 5 years. There has been a 33% boost in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.
The report references 8 cases of gamers going into "property rehabilitation" - getting treatment in expert facilities at which they can remain for a time period supported economically by the trust - for various concerns including to alcohol, stress and anxiety, gambling and drug abuse.
Discussing 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 stated: "We have actually continued to strive on the education front.
"It's something that remains in everyday life in society, however there is a duty for professional athletes and cricketers to make the ideal choices at the best times which's what our education had to do with.
"We're still going to have individuals make the incorrect choices and we're still going to have human .
"The most significant part for us if that does occur is that we're able to select them up."
The report states more than half of the issues affecting gamers associate with low state of mind, stress and anxiety and emotional assistance.
"We've got to make certain the assistance systems remain in location and that individuals are not afraid to actually put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.
"It's always been there. It constantly will exist because it's such a result-based organization. This is where you have actually got to get the balance."
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