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List of Principles for AA

Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, is a self-supporting international organization that promotes clean living and sobriety. AA support groups meet at different times on a daily basis in cities around the world. Most AA meetings are informal and consist of open discussion about drinking problems, readings from AA literature or personal revelations. AA is free to join to anyone who wants to stop drinking.

  1. Alcoholism as Disease

    • AA promotes the disease theory of alcoholism. AA literature describes alcoholism as a disease that afflicts only a small percentage of the population. For most people, alcohol is a recreational substance that is fine to consume in moderation. According to AA, however, people who have the disease of alcoholism cannot drink alcohol. An alcoholic cannot moderate his drinking or recognize limits and must stop drinking altogether if he wants to lead a normal life.

    12 Steps

    • AA adheres to its 12-step program to overcoming alcoholism and leading a sober, happier life. The steps are focused around several principles, including honesty, service, humility and faith. An important aspect of the 12 steps is spirituality. AA says that an alcoholic must recognize a higher power and ask God to help her stop drinking. Another big part of the 12 steps is honesty and humility. The first step is acknowledging that your drinking makes your life unmanageable. In addition, you must take an inventory of yourself, noting the things you regret doing while drinking. That moral inventory is a daily activity to help the alcoholic quit drinking. Service is an important principle, in that AA wants recovering alcoholics to serve their fellow man by helping people struggling with alcohol.

    12 Traditions

    • AA dates back to a group called the Washingtonians in the 19th century. Over the years, AA has altered its ideas through 12 traditions, which explain the purpose and principles of AA as a group. The most important ideas are that AA is not affiliated with any outside organization, group or funding, and does not promote products, services or businesses of any kind. AA also has a tradition of being open to all races, creeds, genders and lifestyles. AA only exists to help people with their addictions. It places no judgment on actions and makes no statements about issues other than alcoholism and addiction.

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