New To AA?

About Alcoholics Anonymous

Only You Can Decide

“If you seem to be having trouble with your drinking, or if your drinking has reached the point where it worries you a bit, you may be interested in knowing something about Alcoholics Anonymous and the A.A. program of recovery from alcoholism.  You may decide that A.A. has nothing to offer you.  Should this be the case, we suggest only that you keep an open mind on the subject.  Consider your drinking carefully in the light of what you may learn from these pages.  Determine, for yourself , whether or not alcohol has truly become a problem for you.  And remember that you will always be most welcome to join the hundreds of thousands of men and women in A.A. who have put their drinking problems behind them and now lead “normal” lives of constructive, day-by-day sobriety”.

“Remember that alcoholism is a progressive disease.  Take it seriously, even if you feel you are only in the early stages of the illness.  ALCOHOLISM KILLS PEOPLE.  If you are an alcoholic, and if you continue to drink, in time you will get worse”.

“A.A. does not promise to solve your life’s problems.  But we can show you how we are learning to live without drinking ‘one day at a time’.  We stay away from that ‘first drink’.  If there is no first one, there cannot be a tenth one.  And when we got rid of alcohol, we found that life became much more manageable”.

A.A. Preamble

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

    – The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

    – There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

    – A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety”.

Serenity Prayer – Long version

God grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time.
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would like it.

Trusting that he will make all things right,
If I surrender to his will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this world
And supremely happy in the next.

Statement by Bill W. (Co-Founder of A.A.)

“Sobriety:  Freedom from alcohol through the teaching and practice of the 12 steps is the sole purpose of an A.A. group”.

Above reprinted with permission of The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. and Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc

A.A.’s Twelve Traditions

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.  Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry it’s message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Copyright © Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

The A.A. Group

A.A. works primarily through local groups and each group is independent from one another.  These groups meet at specific locations and times in a friendly get together for the purpose of discussing the problems of alcoholism and how to overcome these problems.  These meetings provide fellowship, friendship and understanding.  Meetings normally last for 1 hour.  There are no dues or fees involved, but groups will normally pass the “7th Tradition” basket during the meeting for donations to help pay for rent, utilities and miscellaneous expenses.  Group  membership requires no formal application.  Just as we are members of A.A. when we say we are, so are we members of a group if we say we are.  No one is going to ask you to speak during the meeting unless you want to, and in fact listening is encouraged, especially during early recovery.  Do not be afraid to speak up if you have any questions about the A.A. program of recovery.  Remember that when discussing our problems, we confine ourselves to those problems as they relate to alcohol.  

Open and Closed Meetings

Open meetings are just that…open to anyone who wants to quit drinking or those with questions about the A.A. program of recovery.  Family and friends can attend open meetings along with the actual or potential alcoholic providing they come to listen.  Closed meetings are for alcoholics only.  If you think you have a problem with alcohol you are welcome to attend closed meetings.

A.A. IS NOT:

  – A.A. is not a religious movement

  – A.A. is not a temperance movement

  – A.A. is not a social organization

  – A.A. is not an educational agency

  – A.A. is not a “cure all”

  – A.A. is not an employment agency

A.A. DOES NOT:

   – A.A. does not solicit or accept funds from outside sources

  – A.A. does not run hospitals, rest homes, club houses or outside enterprises

  – A.A. does not prescribe treatment for alcoholics

  – A.A. does not pay for treatment for alcoholics