Big rise in female drinkers seeking help

The proportion of female members of Alcoholics Anonymous has risen from 26 per cent in 1976 to 40 per cent.

Up to 5000 people attend AA meetings throughout New Zealand every week, according to a nationwide survey of the fellowship carried out last year and released at the weekend.

Similar surveys were carried out in 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1993.

The increase in female membership mirrors similar trends noted in the United States, where AA was founded in 1935, and in Britain.

Last year's survey reveals that the best estimate of numbers who attend meetings at least once a year is between 4600 and 5400, and their average length of "sobriety" (abstinence) is 7 1/2 years.

There are 425 meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous held throughout New Zealand every week; in Auckland as many a 10 every day. The average meeting size is 13.8 people - 18.1 at each meeting in the four main centres, 9.6 at each meeting elsewhere.

The survey reveals that 45 per cent of meetings are in the area from Kaitaia to Taupo, 21 per cent in the rest of the North Island and 33 per cent in the South Island. The remaining 1 per cent gave insufficient information.

AA members on average attend 2.5 meetings a week, which compares with the United States (2) and Britain (2.9).

Roughly 60 per cent of AA members are between 35 and 54 years old.

AA is a non-professional, self-funded organisation which accepts no money or other support from anyone but its members.

Any person who has a desire to stop drinking alcohol can be a member, and the programme of recovery from alcoholism embraced by AA is based on total abstinence.

The annual Alcoholics Anonymous public awareness week throughout the country begins next Sunday.