The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous

 

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 quit 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 nonprofessional,

         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

         "Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues;

         hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."

 

Tradition Eleven

         "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."

 

Tradition Twelve

         "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions,

        ever reminding us to place principles before personalities."