What is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem. It doesn’t cost anything to attend A.A. meetings. There are no age or education requirements to participate. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem.
A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Maintaining abstinence
AA offers a program of total abstinence. Members simply abstain from one drink, one day at a time. Members maintain their sobriety by sharing their experience, strength, and hope in group meetings and by practicing the Twelve Steps suggested for recovery from alcoholism.
Anyone can attend AA open meetings
These meetings are open to the public. They usually consist of a chairman who briefly explains the AA program and then introduces two or three guests who share their experiences as drinkers in AA and their recovery in AA. There may also be informational meetings devoted exclusively to informing the nonalcoholic public about AA. Doctors, clergy, and public officials are invited. Closed discussion meetings are for alcoholics only.
What AA Doesn't Do
AA does not provide the initial motivation to get alcoholics into recovery… does not recruit… conduct or sponsor research… maintains no attendance records or personal case files… does not partner with social service “boards”… exercises no supervision or control over its members… makes no medical or psychological diagnosis or prognosis… offers no detoxification, nursing or recovery services, hospitalization, medication, or medical or psychiatric treatment… offers no religious services or organizes or sponsors retreats… does not provide alcohol education… provides no housing, food, clothing, employment, money, or any other social or welfare services… offers no domestic or vocational counseling… accepts no money for
their services, nor accept outside contributions… do not provide letters of reference to parole boards, attorneys, court officers, social service agencies, employers, etc.
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. has not approved, endorsed, reviewed, or is affiliated with this website, and the inclusion of a link to aa.org does not imply that this is the case. The preceding material was taken in part or in whole from the following page: What is AA (webpage)