Coming into Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as young people, we found that there were common challenges to face.

In the beginning, we often feel we are too young to be alcoholics.

Some of us didn’t drink for a long time, others didn’t drink strong liquor, stumble around, or forget what we did or said when drunk.

Being young in the everyday world we face peer pressure, stressful relationships with our parents, and parties being a way of life.

In AA we often feel different because we may be the youngest person in our group, and some have even had an uninformed older member discourage us by saying things like: “I spilled more booze than you drank.”

These are hard realities for young people in AA. On the other hand though, by sticking with it and finding younger and older members to help us, we found a solution to our drinking problems.

In AA we have found a way of life that helps us deal with everyday stress and peer pressure; and that life is better and more fun without alcohol.

We also see that we develop closer relationships the longer we stay sober. To us, it doesn’t matter how old you are, how much, where, or what you drink.

What matters is how alcohol affects you. You are the best judge of whether or not you have a problem.

And you know this from your gut whether you feel guilty, lonely, ashamed, or whether alcohol is interfering in your life.

If drinking is causing you trouble and you want to stop but can’t seem to do it on your own, give Alcoholics Anonymous a try.

Try it for 90 days, and if your life doesn’t get better, at least you’ll better understand your options.

All of us felt strange about going to AA.But we now see that AA saved our lives and is the best thing that ever happened to us.

We also now know that there are many members who are our age in fact, approximately 10 percent of AA members are under the age of 30.
The AA Estcourt branch hosts meetings every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.