Alateen

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 7593 2070

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 alcohol 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 please contact us for more information.