Official A.A. source · Problems Other Than Alcohol
“Sobriety — freedom from alcohol — through the teaching and practice of the Twelve Steps is the sole purpose of an A.A. group.”
This page keeps three separate questions visible: the purpose of an A.A. group, membership in A.A., and attendance at open or closed meetings.
Official wording is shown as official wording. Explanatory text below is kept visibly separate.
Three questions that must stay separate
Purpose, membership, and attendance are not the same rule
Each answer below is tied to a current A.A. source.
- Group purpose
- The cited pamphlet names sobriety through the Twelve Steps as the sole purpose of an A.A. group.
- Membership
- Tradition Three states the requirement for A.A. membership: a desire to stop drinking.
- Meeting attendance
- Current A.A. guidance distinguishes open meetings from closed meetings and asks participants to keep discussion related to alcohol.
Official meeting guidance
Open and closed meetings use different attendance language
The F-17 statement card welcomes observers at open meetings and limits closed-meeting attendance to people who have a desire to stop drinking. In both settings, it asks discussion to remain related to alcohol.
Cooperation without affiliation
A.A. can cooperate while retaining its own purpose
A.A. group.Keeps its work centered on the A.A. purpose named in its official literature.
A.A. member.May share personal A.A. experience and may also participate in outside work as an individual.
Professional referral.A.A.’s health-care resource describes ways professionals may connect problem drinkers with A.A.
No affiliation.A.A.’s FAQ and Sixth Tradition preserve the distinction between cooperation and institutional connection.
Continue through the distinctions
Five related guides
Related sections
Follow purpose into A.A. life
Official context
Read the purpose, boundary, and cooperation sources
Historically situated A.A. literatureProblems Other Than AlcoholRead this official historical discussion in context; it is not medical guidance or a new membership rule.Open publication page ↗
Official statement cardPrimary Purpose Statement CardUse the current official card for its exact wording; primary purpose and singleness of purpose are related but distinct.Open publication page ↗
Cooperation contextA.A. as a Resource for the Health Care ProfessionalOfficial context for A.A.’s role and cooperation with health care professionals.Open publication page ↗
Source note: This orientation does not reproduce long source text and does not provide diagnostic, treatment, medication, withdrawal, or emergency advice.