How Long Do AA Meetings Last?

How Long Do AA Meetings Last?

Most Alcohol Anonymous meetings last one hour, but some (especially speaker meetings) might last an hour and a half.


After a few too many nights that led to waking up on your friend’s couch, still wearing your shoes and regretting that last margarita, you decided to give alcohol the boot. You’ve heard of AA, your uncle has been going to meetings for decades and swears by them, and you decide to give it a try. You might have questions — maybe lots of them. Who will be there? Do I have to say I’m an alcoholic? And how long do AA meetings last? This last question might be nagging at you the most (How will I sit through it? What if it’s too long?) Let’s find out!

What’s an AA Meeting?

In short, AA meetings are the cornerstone of the AA program. And if you’re imagining a room with dozens of people, that’s not always the case. In fact, the very first AA meeting had a whopping two participants: the founder, Bill Wilson (a.k.a. Bill W.) and his friend “Dr. Bob.” According to AA literature, that’s all you need — at least two people sharing their “experience, strength, and hope” with others for a mutually beneficial effect (those who were able to ditch booze help others, and in doing so solidify their own sobriety). Symbiosis in action!

Meetings will vary in format. Speaker meetings (as the name suggests) feature a speaker sharing their story. Discussion meetings, on the other hand, involve members going around taking turns sharing. Finally, “Big Book,” “Twelve Step,” and “AA Reflections” meetings focus on specific AA texts as prompts for discussion. 

However, the gist of all meetings is the same: it’s all about sharing and, most importantly, sharing stories of successful recovery. Most follow a similar format, which lends them a certain familiarity and comfort. Once you’ve been to a particular meeting, you know exactly what to expect. And once you’ve been to a few different ones, you pretty much know what to expect across the board.

How Long Are AA Meetings?

The length of these meetings can vary, but there’s a general pattern most of them follow.

Typical Meetings Last One Hour

As we can see by leafing through an AA meeting pamphlet or finding it on the AA meetings website, the overwhelming majority of meetings last an hour. Why the one-hour standard? There are a few reasons behind it:

• The “Goldilocks “ zone. It’s long enough to be meaningful without being overwhelming. Anything less wouldn’t leave enough time for people who want to share to be able to do so. And anything more starts to feel a bit intimidating.
• Accessibility. It’s easier for most to squeeze in an hour-long meeting in between work, grocery runs, and play dates.

That said, there’s often an informal “meeting after the meeting” that gives members a chance to chat, exchange phone numbers, or grab a bite to eat. In fact, many are encouraged to do so, since the program itself is based on mutual support.

Some Meetings Might Be Longer

However, the one-hour time frame for official meetings isn’t true across the board, either. It all comes down to the type of meeting we’re talking about.

• Speaker meetings tend to be an hour and a half. This way there’s plenty of time for discussion once the speaker finishes sharing. They’re often open to anyone (unlike closed meetings, which are exclusively for those trying to stay away from booze).
• Special sessions might also run longer. Meetings that focus on AA texts might be longer as well, especially if they take the format of a workshop. Yep, sometimes there’s homework! However, workshop-style meetings are almost always for a small close-knit group of people who know each other and want to add an extra element to their recovery.

There’s another thing to keep in mind when it comes to meetings running longer than we might expect. A lot of times members of AA will take on “service positions” to help set up before the meeting, clean up afterwards, or meet to discuss practical matters of scheduling and making other arrangements. While AA is always free, it does depend on financial contributions from members to keep going, and these contributions need to be processed by somebody — usually the meeting “bookie” or secretary. And those cookies and coffee that are nearly ubiquitous in some meetings? Well, someone needs to get them from the grocery store, bring them over, and set them up.

What To Expect in an Hour?

So what goes on during that hour? For a deep dive, check out “What To Expect at an AA Meeting.” For now, here’s the gist:

• All meetings start with a greeting and introductions. There’s a brief overview of the program summarizing the main purpose of AA — coming together to share “experience, strength, and hope” regarding our common struggle with alcohol. And yes, just like in the movies, there’s a round of introductions, with most people saying “Hi, my name is Bob (Mary, Vincent, etc.), and I’m an alcoholic.” However, nobody should feel pressured to label themselves!
• There might be a reading of AA literature. A portion of the meeting might involve reading from AA’s foundational texts, such as The Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous) or The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
• If it’s a speaker meeting, one person will share their story. This portion will last for about 20 minutes.
• “Round-robin” discussion. The heart of most meetings — even speaker meetings — is the discussion that follows the introductory steps. This is where the core of AA’s power lies: In sharing stories, people give each other hope that recovery is possible, provide useful advice, and have a chance to ask for help if things are getting rough. (Of course, we can tap into the power of sharing our story outside of AA as well — more on that later!) 
• A celebration of sober time. There might be a celebration of sober time, with different colored chips given out to symbolize a certain number of months without booze. One month sober? Get your chip and bask in the hope it gives to others. And “the most important chip of all”? No, it’s not the fancy black and gold one-year chip — it’s actually the white “24-hour chip” (also known as the “desire chip”) given to newcomers. 
• Anyone have a “burning desire”? Most meetings will also reserve the last few minutes for the so-called “burning desire” sharing. This time is for folks who feel that they might be headed for a drink that very moment and want to talk it out. Simply stating the urge out loud sometimes weakens it; besides, anyone who shares a burning desire is likely to receive support from other members, who might stop by for a chat or offer to grab a coffee together after the meeting.
• The Serenity Prayer. The famous Serenity Prayer always closes the meeting. And yes, people stand in a circle and hold hands. And even if reciting it this way feels a bit awkward, the words are worth considering: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 

Now that we have some idea of what to expect during that hour (or hour and a half), we can see for ourselves if it’s right for us or if a different (perhaps more science-based) approach might work better.

What If AA Isn’t Working for You?

Sat through that hour-long meeting a few times but found it doesn’t jibe with you? No problem! AA is definitely not for everyone, and that’s okay! Check out “Best Alternatives to AA” for a deep dive, but for now, let’s get a general idea of what else is out there.

AA Meeting Alternatives

If AA isn’t right for you after all, no problem! These days, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from when it comes to changing your relationship with alcohol.

• Therapy. Gone are the days when “therapy” meant lying down on a couch and telling a bespeckled “professor type” about our dreams (although if that works for you, by all means — do it!). There are science-backed approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that work wonders when it comes to uncovering our subconscious beliefs around alcohol and reframing them in a way that changes our feelings about booze. The result? Drinking less becomes natural. In fact, CBT is the basis of Reframe’s approach to quitting or cutting back (more on that later).
• Mindfulness-based approaches. Another powerful approach to changing your alcohol habits? Mindfulness and meditation. Being aware of our thoughts allows for greater control — we get to choose which thoughts we get on board with and which ones we let go. Surfing through urges becomes easier and easier as a result! Plus, mindfulness has now been backed by many scientific studies as a powerful way to rewire the brain, enhancing its ability to focus, deal with stress, regulate emotions, and make decisions that benefit us.
• Other support groups. AA isn’t the only support group out there! SMART Recovery, for example, uses a similar format — meetings — but is based on science rather than on spirituality. 
• Technology. Apps like Reframe have dramatically expanded the options for those seeking to change their relationship with booze. Reframe is a science-backed treasure trove of information, inspiration, urge-surfing tools, and motivation from professional coaches and other users on the same path. And it’s all right there, in your pocket — available any time!

All in all, the crucial thing to remember is that you’ve taken the first step: you decided to change your relationship with alcohol. Congratulations! All the other pieces will fall into place, and we’re here to make the journey as easy, empowering, and enjoyable as possible!