Twelve Traditions

The Twelve Traditions are a set of guiding principles for the operation of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other twelve-step programs. They were first published in the AA Grapevine in 1946 and later included in the book "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" in 1953. The Traditions are designed to help groups sustain their efforts and principles over time, emphasizing unity, service, and recovery. They are considered critical to the program's success and are applied to the group level, distinguishing them from the Twelve Steps, which are focused on individual recovery.

Overview

The Twelve Traditions were developed to address the challenges and issues faced by AA groups in the early years. They serve as a framework for resolving conflicts, making decisions, and governing group actions. The Traditions emphasize the importance of anonymity, democracy, self-support, and non-affiliation with external entities. They are as follows:

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
2. 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.
3. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. 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.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Application and Importance

The Twelve Traditions are applied in the daily operations and decision-making processes of AA groups worldwide. They ensure that groups operate in a manner that is consistent with the principles of AA and that they remain focused on their primary purpose of helping alcoholics to achieve sobriety. The Traditions also protect the group from external influences and internal conflicts that could compromise its effectiveness.

The importance of the Twelve Traditions cannot be overstated. They have helped AA and other twelve-step programs to grow and serve millions of people around the world. By adhering to these principles, AA groups maintain their unity, integrity, and effectiveness in carrying out their mission.

See Also

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Twelve Steps
• Recovery (addiction)
• Sobriety