How Alcoholics Anonymous has been helping people beat the booze for 75 years

A friendly barista serves steaming cappuccinos to those entering the coffee shop located in the foyer of a church. The people milling about are chatting as they wait for things to get started.

They’re not here for a religious service, though. This group of 10 are headed to a tiny room on the second floor of the Central Methodist Mission church in Cape Town for an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting.

They’re different ages and from various backgrounds but they all have a common demon: they’re desperately fighting alcoholism. They’ve turned to the AA because, as the organisation believes, the battle against booze is more powerful when you’re surrounded by an army of people to help you fight.