What is Alateen?

Alateen is for teenage relatives and friends of alcoholics. Alateen is part of Al-Anon.

We believe alcoholism is a family disease that affects everyone in the family. Alateen meetings are attended by 12-17 year olds. They meet to share their experiences of having, or having had, a problem drinker in their lives. They help and support each other.

By attending meetings, young people gain an understanding of the illness and feel the benefits of realising they are not alone. They learn that they did not cause this problem and that they are not responsible for their relative’s or friend’s drinking or behaviour. By sharing their experiences, they find solutions to their problems and hope for the future.

For Alateen meetings, phone the General Service Office on 020 7407 0215

Alateen was started in 1957 by a teenager in California whose father was in AA and whose mother was in Al-Anon.

Alateen is not for teenage alcoholics, unless their lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

Each Alateen meeting is sponsored by two experienced Al-Anon members who are screened and cleared to work with young people by the Criminal Records Bureau in England and Wales. There are a limited number of Alateen groups in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and none in Scotland.

We have a range of literature for teenagers available from the on-line shop.

My story...

I started going to meetings at the same time as my mother attended her first AA meeting. I learned very quickly that alcoholism is a disease and that alcoholics are powerless over this. I was inspired by my mother’s attempt at recovering her life and realised that, although alcoholics and relatives are powerless over this insidious disease, none of us is helpless.

Today I am recovering my own life. I now know that life can be different and that the help I need is out there for me. I am truly grateful for Al-Anon which has had such a positive impact on my life and that of my family and friends.