Al-Anon is a mutual support group of peers who share their experience in applying the Al-Anon principles to problems related to the effects of a problem drinker in their lives. Al-Anon’s World Service Office (WSO) encourages websites to link directly to their meeting search. The descriptions below may help you in choosing a specific type of meeting from the WSO’s meeting search, which you can access in the red box at the bottom of the page. Any Al-Anon member is welcome at ANY Al-Anon meeting.

For the newcomer

Each meeting has its own style, so it is suggested that you try 6 meetings before deciding if Al-Anon is right for you.  Autonomy allows the meeting to be run as its members choose, within guidelines designed to promote Al-Anon unity.  The only requirement for membership is that your life has been affected by someone’s drinking.

What are Al-Anon meetings like?

In a typical Al-Anon meeting, participants share and listen to the experiences, strengths and hopes of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis. Most Al-Anon meetings focus at first on a topic delivered by a lead-off speaker (the chair of this meeting), followed by participants speaking about how that topic relates to their own lives or about other experiences in their lives. Participants are not required to speak, but when they do, they are encouraged to share their own experience, strength and hope, focusing on their own life without gossip or criticism of one another.

Are all Al-Anon meetings the same?

Each Al-Anon meeting is independent, and each has its own character and focus. Some meetings focus on a subgroup of participants (see below).

When our World Service Office lists a group, at their request, there is an informal agreement that the group will abide by Al-Anon Traditions and keep its doors open to any Al-Anon member. Listing in the directory does not constitute approval of any group’s manner of practicing the Al-Anon program. If the group you attend is not right for you, please try another.

There is help available in Al-Anon.

How to Find a Meeting

The easiest way to find an Al-Anon meeting is to use the red search bar at the bottom of this page. It will take you to the World Service Office (WSO) Meeting Finder page.

You will see  the following choices:

After entering location information you can filter the meeting search by selecting the type of meeting, language, day of the week, any accommodations needed, and participants.

“Families, Friends, and Observers Welcome” (Anyone interested in learning about Al-Anon may attend meetings with this designation. Students and professionals are also welcomed. Interested individuals are requested to maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of members’ identities.)
“Families and Friends Only” (These meetings are attended by members and prospective members who are affected by someone’s drinking.)

The meeting finder will display all meetings within the search radius whether face-to-face (in person), electronic only, or hybrid.

We hope to see you soon!

Revised Jan 2026