England cricketers face new alcohol restrictions and midnight curfew

By Chukwuemeka Umeh — 11 July 2026 — 3 min read

England men’s cricketers have been issued new guidelines regarding alcohol consumption and curfews. The updated regulations advise players to avoid drinking alcohol on the day before and after matches. Additionally, a midnight curfew, which was previously introduced, has been clarified to be in effect on every day of a series, whether at home or on tour.

These changes follow an eight-month period that included several incidents. These incidents involved a player being involved in an altercation with a bouncer, the Test team attending a stag party during an Ashes series, and captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson breaking a curfew. The curfew breach by Stokes and Atkinson led to their omission from the second Test at The Oval after a win in the first Test.

Ambiguities surrounding the previous curfew were noted, with suggestions that some players, including Atkinson, who resides in London, believed it did not apply once a game had concluded. The new guidance aims to remove such uncertainties by explicitly stating the curfew’s continuous application throughout a series.

New Regulations and Discretion

The new guidelines extend beyond just the curfew. Players are also advised against consuming alcohol on the day immediately preceding, during, or the day immediately following a match. Furthermore, rules prohibit players from appearing under the influence of alcohol in public and from posting any alcohol-related material or activities on social media.

Players are now required to inform team management or security if they are outside the hotel after 10 pm, and to communicate any changes to their plans. However, the head coach and director of cricket, currently held by Brendon McCullum and Rob Key respectively, retain the discretion to relax these recommendations as deemed appropriate.

This discretionary power allows for flexibility, such as enabling players to celebrate a victory or to maintain traditions like an end-of-series drink with the opposing team at the conclusion of an Ashes series. These guidelines are specifically for the England senior men’s teams; England women’s teams do not have formal alcohol rules.

Context and Rationale Behind the Changes

The updated rules come after a period of scrutiny for England cricket, particularly following a 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia, which concluded in January. This series was reportedly affected by allegations of a drinking culture. Further controversy arose during England‘s recent 2-1 series defeat at home to New Zealand, which included the curfew breach incident.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) states that the document outlining these rules is designed to protect the players, the reputation of cricket in England and Wales, the ECB itself, and to optimise player performance. The focus is broadly on improving “team culture.”

However, some observers note a potential dissonance, as the ECB attempts to address the team’s drinking culture while simultaneously monetising alcohol through official partnerships and at venues like Lord’s, which features a Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar & Garden. The new regulations are intended to ensure players maintain professional conduct both on and off the field.

The new rules are a response to a series of incidents and a perceived need to formalise conduct expectations within the England men’s cricket setup. The guidelines are now in effect for the senior men’s teams.

Source: foxsports.com.au