Alcoholics Anonymous in Harrogate has reported a surge in enquiries since lockdown began — and one member has urged local people struggling to overcome addiction to attend a meeting.

Known for its 12-step programme for dealing with addiction, AA meetings provide a safe space to discuss experiences. The only attendance requirement is a desire to stop drinking.

Harrogate, which has long had a reputation as a drinking town, has twice as many AA meetings per capita than York and four times as many as Leeds.

The Harrogate district has 16 weekly AA meetings, including in Knaresborough and Ripon.

In-person meetings recently resumed after taking place for most of the year on Zoom. Public Health England has confirmed that AA meetings are exempt from the government's "rule of six".

Michael, which is not his real name, told the Stray Ferret he had been attending meetings for almost two years.

He said alcoholism often went "under the radar" in affluent Harrogate. Many people with problems were often functioning in highly paid and pressurised jobs rather than conforming to the stereotype of being asleep on a park bench, he added.

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Michael started rehab for a month in January 2019 and has stayed sober ever since. He credits AA with helping turn his life around.

Public Health England figures published last week revealed there are 8.4 million high risk drinkers in the UK, a figure that has almost doubled since February.

Many people drank alone at home when pubs closed during lockdown. But Michael said self-isolation is not unusual for people in the depths of alcoholism. After socialising with friends at the pub he would regularly carry on drinking at home with a bottle of wine or some beers.

Michael said when he first went to an AA meeting he was surprised it wasn't all "doom and gloom".

He added:

For a full list of AA meetings in the district visit this website.