Counsellor Jaya Moitra addresses the gathering at the centre on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

A peg every day keeps the doctor away, so goes the saying.

But for many, these pegs too many often end up ruining their lives just like it happened in the case of 57-year-old Sayantan Das (named changed), who binged daily on beer. However, Das is reformed now, having turned from a social outcast to a successful family man, thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous’s year-long efforts.

The centre, which functions from Loyola School premises in Jamshedpur, is a wing of the international organisation found in 1935. It completed a year on Tuesday and hosted a small get-together on the cradle premises to spread the message of life.

“I started drinking with friends when work took me to Bhilai for two years. I got so hooked to alcohol that my business suffered. Somehow, I went to Calcutta and joined Calcutta Samaritans and quit the drinking habit. However, once I visited Vishakhapatnam, I again started having beer because of the humid weather. The addiction soon grew out of control. After four years, I turned to Alcoholics Anonymous that helped me overcome the habit,” Das smiled, adding that it had been a year since he left drinking.

Till date, Alcoholics Anonymous has been able to help 10 addicts stop drinking and lead a happy life. Like them, 25 more are in the process of kick the habit and are attending counselling sessions. The sessions are held every Tuesday and Saturday.

As of now, the centre conducts a story-sharing session, where people are motivated to lead a happy social life with self-control. It also helps the reformed people get engaged with NGOs.

“People feel that they can get out of their misery once they are down two pegs. But, instead they should concentrate on meditation that helps the mind settle down. We try to make them comfortable here and talk about the better and beautiful things in life. After all, it is a disease,” said Jaya Moitra, a counsellor at Alcoholics Anonymous.

She also thanked actor Aamir Khan.

“I always wanted to do something like this, but had no clue how to go about it. I called up the helpline number that flashed during Satyamev Jayate and it was Aamir Khan who gave me the contacts so that I could start this centre.”