ALCOHOLICS Anonymous is urging the public and families affected by addiction to attend an annual 'day of gratitude' in Belfast tomorrow to learn about its work.
The public information event has been running for 40 years and is described as a chance to "give thanks" for sobriety.
Meetings will be held on the hour from 10am to 10pm for members in the Ramada Encore hotel.
However, a separate public meeting will be held in the middle of the day during which presentations will be made by a doctor, family member of an alcoholic and an AA member.
The organisation, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in the north last year, currently has more than 900 groups in Ireland.
Anonymity is key, with members only ever using their Christian names.
Through AA, groups of alcoholics meet regularly to share their experience and help support each other in their bid to quit drinking and stay sober.
Guidelines known as the '12 Steps', which have a strong basis in spirituality, are the ethos of the organisation and gave structure to those in recovery.
One leading Belfast member, 'John', who has been sober for 40 years and says AA "saved his life", continues to attend meeting three times a week.
"Our annual gratitude day is really an opportunity for us to say thank you to AA. But the event will also give an overall picture of alcoholism, from a relative's point of view to a doctor's to the alcoholic," he said.
"We would urge anyone affected to come along."
AA can be contacted on its national helpline: 0845 769 7555 or in Belfast at 028 9035 1222
