12 Traditions

(From the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous)

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; the 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 on primary purpose - to carry its 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 my 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.

Reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services