Why has Ben Stokes Quit Alcohol? England Captain Reveals Massive Reason to Stop Drinking

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England Test captain Ben Stokes has revealed that he has stopped drinking alcohol since January 2, 2025.

The decision comes as part of his broader commitment to full fitness and peak performance, especially with crucial Test series ahead, including matches against Zimbabwe and a five-Test battle against India.

Stokes suffered two significant hamstring injuries in 2024, requiring surgeries- the most recent in December following a tear during a Test in New Zealand. Reflecting on the challenges of rehabilitation, Stokes admitted that he had begun to question whether his alcohol consumption had hindered his recovery.

"After my first major injury, I remember the shock of it, after the initial adrenaline had stopped, thinking: 'How has this happened? We did have a bit of a drink four or five nights ago, could that have played a part? It wouldn't have helped," Stokes was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

"There were some nights where I'd drink a bottle or two of wine, then not remember what I'd done. It was unhealthy," the England captain added.

Stokes emphasized that quitting alcohol was a conscious choice to maximize his potential as he enters the latter half of his career.

"It's just getting harder to do everything. Hence why now I feel like I have to work so much harder away from the field, in the gym and all that kind of stuff to just give me the best chance of being out there to perform."

The increasing physical demands of modern cricket have required players to adapt off the field as much as on it. For Stokes, abstaining from alcohol is now part of his new routine to meet those demands head-on.

Stokes also opened up about how his past drinking patterns affected his personal life. He acknowledged being an "all or nothing" drinker, often consuming excessively at social gatherings, which frustrated those close to him.

"My wife would always say: 'Why do you have to go so hard?' I couldn't really answer it. I wasn't addicted or anything-I just didn't have a stop button," he said.

His shift in mindset now reflects a more balanced, mature approach, both professionally and personally. Stokes' return to international cricket, starting with the Zimbabwe Tests, is expected to see him fully resume his all-round duties. His renewed discipline and off-field lifestyle change underline a significant evolution in the approach as bigger assignments are on the horizon.