Clients from Nord-Trøondelag county that received residential treatment for alcohol problems were interviewed some two years after the index treatment. Treatment programmes were selected by the patients themselves from among those provided at one public and three private clinics, and the costs were covered partially or entirely borne by the municipality. It was possible to interview 80% (133/166) of those treated during the study period. The overall outcome was quite good, with 2/3 being abstinent and over 80% not having a current DSM-IIIR or S-MAST defined alcohol problem at follow-up. Half (13/26) of those who had relapsed and were retreated were not drinking a year later. A survival analysis suggested that there were marked differences in relapse rates among those attending the different clinics. Small size, a warm, home-like atmosphere, and a clear presentation of the "Higher Power" concept were associated with the two clinics with fewer relapses, although the nature of the study does not allow inferences of causality. Other factors did not differentiate the more successful from the less successful clinics.