England change alcohol policy after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson incidents

England players have been advised not to drink alcohol even the day after a match as cricket chiefs tighten their rules following the controversial night out involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson.

The ECB has updated its alcohol policy after last month’s incident at Rex Rooms on the King’s Road in west London, where Atkinson was allegedly attacked by a Saracens academy rugby player during a late-night visit with Stokes.

The episode left England’s hierarchy furious and prompted fresh scrutiny of the squad’s behaviour, particularly after a midnight curfew had already been introduced following the 4-1 Ashes defeat.

That series had been overshadowed by stories about player drinking, including the incident in Wellington where Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer just hours before captaining England.

Stokes and Atkinson were later left out of the squad for the next Test at the Oval, although Stokes did not witness the altercation involving the rugby player.

Both men returned for the series decider at Trent Bridge, where Stokes announced his retirement.

Rather than saying the pair had broken curfew, England stated after legal discussions that they had "breached specific contractual obligations".

There had been confusion over the curfew itself, with Atkinson reportedly unaware it was in place and uncertainty inside the camp about exactly when it applied.

Rob Key, England’s managing director, considered going as far as a complete alcohol ban in the aftermath.

He ultimately stopped short of that step but has now circulated a revised policy to players, making clear that expectations around drinking have become significantly stricter.

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According to The Telegraph, the new document says a midnight curfew applies on every day of an England men’s home series or tour.

Players have also been told they must not appear under the influence of alcohol in public or post any alcohol-related material on social media.

Any player leaving the team hotel after 10pm must inform management or security, including if their plans change.

The policy goes further around matchdays.

From the day before a match starts until the end of the day after it finishes, players are told: "We recommend that no alcohol be consumed."

They are also banned from drinking in public during that period, including in public areas of the team hotel, unless specifically approved by Key or head coach Brendon McCullum.

Private drinking is also "strongly discouraged", with the document stating that "preparation, recovery and professionalism must take priority".

The ECB has confirmed that if a Test finishes on day five, those rules and recommendations would remain in place until the end of the following day.

The policy, signed by Key, says its aim is to protect players, safeguard the reputation of the ECB and English cricket, and maximise performance.

The move marks a significant cultural shift, with post-Test drinks long seen as part of cricket tradition.

But the fallout from the Rex Rooms incident has added pressure on England’s leadership, with Key and McCullum facing renewed scrutiny and the team now searching for a new Test captain after Stokes’s retirement.