To those now in its fold, Alcoholics Anonymous has made the difference between misery and sobriety, and often the difference between life and death. A.A. can, of course, mean just as much to uncounted alcoholics not yet reached.
Therefore, no society of men and women ever had a more urgent need for continuous effectiveness and permanent unity. We alcoholics see that we must work together and hang together, else most of us will finally die alone.
The 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous are, we A.A.’s believe, the best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"
Reprinted from "Alcoholics Anonymous ®", page 561 with permission, Copyright © 1939, 1955, 1976, 2001 by A.A. World Services ®, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Twelve Traditions
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.
Reprinted from "Alcoholics Anonymous ®", page 562 with permission, Copyright © 1939, 1955, 1976, 2001 by A.A. World Services ®, Inc. All rights reserved.
