Your First AA Meeting

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Newcomer orientation

Attend once, listen, and decide what is useful

You can attend once, listen, and decide what is useful. Confirm the listing, arrive or join, and keep control over what you say, whether you return, and how much you disclose.

“It is quite okay if you do not want to.”Official A.A. guidance about speaking

Your control

What to confirm—and what remains your choice

These are orientation notes, not links. They separate practical listing details from decisions that remain yours.

1

Confirm before going

  • Current day and start time
  • Physical address or online access
  • Open or closed attendance
  • Any accessibility notes
2

You decide

  • Whether to introduce yourself
  • Whether to share or only listen
  • How much personal information to give
  • Whether to stay afterward
3

Not required

  • No membership registration
  • No pledge or promise to return
  • No requirement to speak or tell your story

Meeting tools and types

Choose and confirm a meeting

Use the current finder, compare attendance designations, or review online access and meeting types.

AA Meeting FinderSearch current meetings by day, time, region, access, and type. Open AA MeetingsOpen meetings welcome anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous. Closed AA MeetingsClosed meetings are for people who have a desire to stop drinking. AA Online MeetingsSee current online and hybrid meeting listings. Types of MeetingsCompare attendance, access, format, audience, accessibility, and other published distinctions.

Newcomer guides

Practical guidance for a first visit

Each complete card answers one part of preparing, attending, or understanding the fellowship.

Choose a meeting How to Find an AA MeetingUse current listings and verify the access, schedule, and meeting details before attending. Who may attend Open and Closed MeetingsUnderstand the attendance designation before choosing a meeting. Meeting orientation What Happens at an AA Meeting?See a practical sequence without assuming every autonomous group is identical. About the fellowship What Is Alcoholics Anonymous?Understand what A.A. is, what members share, and what the fellowship does not require.

Common questions

Questions people may carry through the door

What if I recognize someone?

Anonymity is a central expectation. You also should not disclose another person’s identity outside the meeting.

What if I am unsure I belong?

Only you decide whether you are an alcoholic. A closed meeting is for members or people with a desire to stop drinking; an open meeting also permits interested observers.

What if I do not know the customs?

You do not need to perform expertise. Listen, follow the chair’s directions, and ask a member a practical question if you need help.

Primary references

Official A.A. newcomer sources

Choose a publication or the official answer about speaking. The two publications open directly as official PDFs.

Cover of A Newcomer Asks Official A.A. PDF A Newcomer Asks Direct answers about attending, privacy, membership, cost, belief, and contacting A.A. Open the PDF ↗ Cover of Frequently Asked Questions About A.A. Official A.A. PDF Frequently Asked Questions About A.A. A longer Conference-approved reference about meetings, privacy, participation, and recovery. Open the PDF ↗ Official A.A. FAQ Will I have to say something? A direct official answer about whether a newcomer must speak or introduce themselves. Open the answer ↗

Source record: Official A.A. newcomer publications and speaking guidance reviewed August 13, 2026. Practical checklist language is separated from source-backed guidance.