Traditions
The Twelve Traditions provide guidelines for relationships between the groups, members, the global Fellowship and society at large. Questions of finance, public relations, donations and purpose are addressed in the Traditions. There is both a short form and a long form of the Traditions. The Traditions were first published in the April 1946 AA Grapevine under the title “Twelve Points to Assure Our Future.”
Tradition One
Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
Tradition Two
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.
Tradition Three
The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
Tradition Four
Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
Tradition Five
Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
Tradition Six
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.
Tradition Seven
Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Tradition Eight
Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
Tradition Nine
A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
Tradition Ten
A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
Tradition Eleven
Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.
Tradition Twelve
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.