Al-Anon vs. AA: Core Differences

Feature

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Al-Anon Family Groups

Primary Audience

People recovering from alcoholism

Family and friends of alcoholics

Main Goal

Achieve and maintain sobriety

Find peace and healing despite a loved one’s drinking

Founded By

Bill Wilson & Dr. Bob Smith (1935)

Lois Wilson (1951)

Focus of Recovery

Personal abstinence from alcohol

Emotional detachment, self-care, and boundary-setting

12 Steps

Applied to one’s own addiction

Adapted to address codependency and emotional recovery

Spiritual Emphasis

Strong, but open to interpretation

Spiritual, not religious — “God as we understand Him”

Meeting Style

Shares, speakers, step studies

Shares, topic discussions, focus on emotional support

Tokens/Chips

Celebrate sobriety milestones

Optional — may mark anniversaries with slogans or medallions

Al-Anon today is more inclusive, trauma-informed, and flexible than ever:

Meetings are global 🌍 — in-person, online, and hybrid formats.
Alateen offers support for teens aged 13–18 affected by someone else’s drinking.
Focus on detachment with love — learning to care without controlling.
Slogans like “Let Go and Let God,” “One Day at a Time,” and “Progress Not Perfection” are used as daily mantras.
No cross-talk in meetings — members share without interruption or advice-giving.
Anonymity and confidentiality are sacred, creating a safe space for healing.