LEWIS DEMANDS SOBRIETY FOR NEXT GENERATION OF DARTS STARS
04/08/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
ADRIAN LEWIS reckons it is “best policy” that darts players don’t drink alcohol as he hopes the next generation of stars ditch the booze.
‘Jackpot’ has called for a culture shift in the sport as he prepares for a return after more than two years away from competition.
Stoke-on-Trent thrower Lewis stepped away in 2023 to care for his ill wife Sarah and to escape the mental strain of life on tour.
The two-time world champion hopes his rivals will stay sharp and sober when aiming for glory on the big stage in the years ahead as he gears up for his comeback.
He said: “I think it’s best policy that they don’t drink. If they can drown that out. That’s what I’m hoping to see in the future.
“I can’t wait to return to the oche! I’m playing a pairs tournament, International Pairs, with Steve Beaton. I’m looking forward to it, I really am.
“I’m just gonna get up there and enjoy it and whatever happens, happens. That’s what it’s about for me.
“Just making sure I enjoy it. Then come January, see where we are in order to get a tour card back.”
Four-time major winner Lewis’ call for calm comes just two weeks after Gary Anderson urged him to return to the tour, having labelled the younger players as “boring.”
But Lewis believes the modern era has evolved, with social media playing a major role in shaping how players behave and interact on tour.
He added: “It’s like in our house, the lads are always on their phones, gaming. I just think that’s how a lot of that generation are now, that’s how it’s changed with social media.
“I bet the young lads can have a laugh. Otherwise it’d be a pretty boring place.
“Everybody’s different aren’t they, some people won’t want to talk because they’re nervous. A lot of people talk because they are nervous.”
The 40-year-old believes last month’s World Matchplay tournament was one of the best he has ever witnessed.
Teen sensation Luke Littler took the title and broke Lewis’ record for the most 180s hit in the competition with 64.
Lewis revealed: “I’ll tell you what, that’s got to be one of the best Matchplays I’ve ever seen. The standard and everything else.
“The amount of times Luke Littler went 5-0 down. I was there for the final. It was a great tournament. But the final was fantastic, it really was.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
