The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) from the “Big Book”



The Twelve Traditions of 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; they 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 one 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 nonprofessional, but
    our service centers may employ special workers.


     

  9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may 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.