Frequently Asked Questions

Below there are frequently asked questions arranged by category.

A.A. has no officers or executives who wield power or authority over the Fellowship. There is no “government” in A.A. It is obvious, however, that…
The absence of rules, regulations or "musts" is one of the unique features of A.A. as a local group and as a worldwide Fellowship. There are no…
A group from West Virginia was planning on starting a foundation with a club, a hospital, a rehabilitation center and a research center. They wrote…
The “Twelve Traditions” of A.A. are suggested principles to insure the survival and growth of the thousands of groups that make up the Fellowship.…
Most A.A.s are sociable people, a factor that may have been partially responsible for their becoming alcoholics in the first place. As a consequence…
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. An A.A. group will usually have a voluntary collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as…
Service material differs from Conference-approved literature in that it has not come about through Conference Advisory Action. It is produced when…
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,…
The service structure is the framework in which our "general services" are carried out. It is the structure that takes the place of government in A.A…
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…
The majority of A.A. members believe that we have found the solution to our drinking problem not through individual willpower, but through a power…
A few people have stopped drinking after reading Alcoholics Anonymous, the A.A. “Big Book,” which sets forth the basic principles of the recovery…