The Alcoholism Council of Greater New York, founded in 1966, and the Fellowship Center, founded in 1958, was organized with the belief that the misuse and abuse of alcohol were large problems, in both the society as a whole and especially in the criminal justice system. The Alcoholism Council of Greater New York and the Fellowship Center worked independently for several years, pioneering programs that provided:

• Education and training for healthcare and social work professionals
• Education and training for employees and supervisors in the workplace
• Education and training in communities and schools
• Helpline
• Short-term motivational and educational counseling for individuals and families addressing problems associated with alcohol abuse
• Education and training within the city and state correctional facilities
• Re-entry counseling to parolees
• Employee Assistance Counseling

In 1990 the two agencies consolidated to become the Alcoholism Council of New York.

Since then, the Council has added intervention services to educate families on how to address a family member abusing alcohol or other drugs.

The Alcoholism Council's services reach New Yorkers in all five boroughs. Many are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale based on the client's ability to pay. Everyone is received for counseling and referral. No one is refused help.