Attendance eligibility
Open and closed answer one question: who may attend?
The label does not rank a meeting’s seriousness or quality, and it does not tell you whether the meeting is in person, online, hybrid, discussion, speaker, or book study.
Compare the definitions
Choose according to everyone who will attend
These definition cards are static. The exact official sources appear as complete cards below.
Anyone interested may attend
“Nonalcoholics may attend open meetings as observers.”
This may include a family member, friend, student, professional, or another interested observer. An open meeting still carries the expectation that members’ identities are protected.
Attendance follows the closed-meeting definition
“For A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and have a desire to stop drinking.”
Closed meetings give members an opportunity to discuss their alcoholic problem with other alcoholics.
Practical distinction: If anyone attending is an observer who does not qualify under the closed-meeting definition, choose an Open meeting.
Meeting routes
Use the established meeting buttons
Each complete card—including its original animated button and description—opens the named destination.
Keep the label in scope
What the label does not tell you
Not access mode
Both open and closed meetings can be in person, online, or hybrid.
Not format
Either may be discussion, speaker, beginners, Step, Tradition, or book study.
Not a quality score
Closed does not mean more serious; open does not mean less focused.
Not permission to identify members
An open door does not remove the expectation of protecting members’ identities.
Use the distinction in context
Continue with a focused newcomer guide
Each complete card opens one related guide.
Primary references
Official A.A. definitions and publication
Each official destination is one complete source card. The publication opens directly as the official PDF.
Official A.A. PDF
Frequently Asked Questions About A.A.
A Conference-approved reference with broader context about meetings, membership, privacy, and participation.
Open the PDF ↗
Source record: Official open- and closed-meeting FAQs and the Conference-approved FAQ publication reviewed August 13, 2026. The comparison separates attendance eligibility from access and format.