Frequently Asked Questions

Below there are frequently asked questions arranged by category.

A.A. members don’t have to attend any set number of meetings in a given period. It is purely a matter of individual preference and need. Most members…
We in A.A. believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol…
Like everyone else, public figures should have the protection of anonymity to the extent that they desire it.
Bill W. used "defects of character" in one Step and "shortcomings" in another Step because he felt the terms to be interchangeable, according to a…
To help support A.A.’s essential services, the General Service Conference suggests that individual groups, through an informed group conscience,…
It is understood by A.A. members that personal disclosures made in A.A. meetings are to be treated as confidential. For example, if friends outside…
Explain that anonymity is extremely important to A.A. members. All A.A. members decides if and when to share aspects of their recovery, and with whom…
No. Each A.A. entity — group, district, area, central office and GSO — provides a specific service and is autonomous. Contributions should be made…
Asking for special favors because of A.A. membership is not in the spirit of the anonymity Traditions.
Members and groups who participate in A.A.’s tradition of self-support often say the amount they contribute is secondary to the spiritual connection…
Groups strive to provide as safe an environment as possible in which members can focus on sobriety, and, while anonymity is central to that purpose,…
Publicly accessible aspects of the Internet such as websites featuring text, graphics, audio and video can be considered the same as publishing or…