Frequently Asked Questions

Below there are frequently asked questions arranged by category.

Individual A.A. members and A.A. groups may make a contribution to benefit GSO online or by mail. In keeping with A.A.’s tradition of self-support,…
The A.A. tradition of public relations has always been keyed to "attraction rather than promotion." A.A. never seeks publicity but always cooperates…
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…
We do not maintain any membership lists, including lists of early members. It is difficult to piece together an accurate list of early members with…
Bill W. was the author of the "To Wives" chapter. It is commonly thought that his wife Lois wrote it. But, as 'Pass It On' describes (page 200), Lois…
Not all records are digitized and available online for several reasons. Firstly, it takes money, resources and staff hours to digitize the vast…
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…
The General Service Office in New York primarily serves and supports the Fellowship in the United States and Canada, where English, Spanish and…
The answer is that A.A. will work only for those who admit that they are alcoholics, who honestly want to stop drinking — and who are able to keep…
If you provide your email address with your contribution, you should receive an email acknowledgment from us within a week. If you do not provide an…
Members of A.A. have a selfish interest in offering a helping hand to other alcoholics who have not yet achieved sobriety. First, they know from…
Anonymity at the personal level: At the personal level, anonymity provides protection for all members from identification as alcoholics, a safeguard…