Alcoholics Anonymous acknowledge the impact of alcoholism on relationships during Alcohol Awareness Week 2021.

15 – 21 November 2021

Alcoholics Anonymous members are aware of the devastating effect alcoholism can have on relationships with family, friends and colleagues.  During Alcohol Awareness Week, AA acknowledges the impact that alcoholism has on relationships and celebrates the great improvements that can be made when alcoholics receive the support they need to recover from their addiction.

AA has been helping alcoholics to recover from alcoholism since 1935. During that time, AA has supported thousands of people to re-establish relationships with themselves and others.

Our 2020 membership survey found that there are over 4.2 million attendances at AA meetings each year in the UK . For the first time, the majority of AA members, 55%, have been in the fellowship for over 10 years. The 2020 results support the findings of the Cochrane report that AA is as effective, if not more so, than other established treatments.

Female membership of AA has increased by 22% over the past 49 years since AA GB conducted the first membership survey in 1972. Current membership is 53% male and 47% female, the highest proportion of females recorded in an AA GB survey.
The majority of AA members, 58%, are in full-time employment with 26% retired.

AA is free, confidential and available to anyone who is worried about their drinking.

Kate, London, AA Member says:

“When I was drinking, I put alcohol before all of my relationships.  I was unreliable and disconnected from my friends and family and colleagues. I was as frustrated about my behaviour as they were, but I didn’t know how to change.

“One Sunday, after a big night out, I was hung over, full of shame and anxiety, and I called Alcoholics Anonymous. The next day I went to my first AA meeting. The AA members were friendly, welcoming and helped me to see that alcoholism was something that I could recover from.

“I have now been sober for nine years. I have mended many of my relationships and I’m proud to be a good partner, daughter, sister, friend and colleague. I hope that all alcoholics get the chance to join a recovery programme and experience a better life with happier and healthier relationships.”
END

Notes to editors
1.    Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship dedicated to helping people recover from alcoholism.
2.    AA is free, confidential and available to anyone who is worried about their drinking.
3.    AA began in 1935 in Akron, Ohio and has approximately 3 million members worldwide .
4.    AA in Great Britain began at London’s Dorchester hotel in March 1947.
5.    In 2022, AA Great Britain will celebrate its 75-year anniversary.
6.    Visit the AA website, www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk , for more information about AA and how to find a meeting.
7.    You can access a range of AA videos here
8.    For media enquiries contact media@aamail.org or Emma on 01904 644  6764.

https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Professionals/Interesting-Statistics

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD012880.pub2/full

https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/About-AA/Historical-Data