Alcoholics Anonymous

With local groups in thousands of communities, we are part of an informal international fellowship with members in more than 100 countries. We have but one primary purpose: to stay sober ourselves and to help others who may turn to us for help in achieving sobriety.

What is Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various sorts of trouble as a result of drink. We attempt – most of us successfully – to create a satisfactory way of life without alcohol. For this we find we need the help and support of other alcoholics in AA
If I go to an AA meeting, does that commit me to anything?
No. AA keeps no membership files, or attendance records. You need disclose nothing about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.
What happens if I meet people I know in AA?
They will be there for the same reason you are there. They will not disclose your identity to outsiders. At AA you retain as much anonymity as you wish. That is one of the reasons we call ourselves Alcoholics Anonymous.
What happens at an AA meeting?
An AA meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about what drink did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to deal with this, and how they are living their lives today.
How can this help me with my drink problem?
We in AA know what it is like to be addicted to alcohol, and to be unable to keep promises made to others and ourselves that we will stop drinking. We are not professional therapists. Our only qualification for helping others to recover from alcoholism is that we have recovered ourselves. Problem drinkers coming to us know that recovery is possible because they see people who have done it.
Why do AAs keep on going to meetings after they are cured?
We in the fellowship of AA believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol depends on maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual health. This we can achieve by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay sober if we help other alcoholics.
How do I join AA?
You are an AA member if and when you say so. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking, and many of us were not very wholehearted about that when we first approached AA
How much does AA membership cost?
There are no dues or fees for AA membership. An AA group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover running expenses, such as rent, coffee, etc., and to this all members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish.
Is AA a religious organisation?
No. Nor is it allied to any religious organisation.
There’s a lot of talk about God, though, isn’t there?
The majority of AA members believe that we have found the solution to our drinking problem not through individual willpower, but through a power greater than ourselves. However, everyone defines this power as he or she wishes. Many people call it God, others think it is the collective therapy of AA, still others don’t believe in it at all. There is room in AA for people of all shades of belief and non-belief.
Can I bring my family to an AA meeting?
Family members or close friends are welcome at ‘Open’ AA meetings. Discuss this with your local contact.
What advice do you give new members?
In our experience, the people who recover in AA are those who:
- Stay away from the first drink;
- Attend AA meetings regularly;
- Seek out the people in AA who have successfully stayed sober for some time;
- Try to put into practice the AA program of recovery.
How can I contact AA?
You can call in complete confidence on 0800 9177 650 or email at help@aamail.org. You can also contact Calderdale Recovery Steps who can arrange for someone to talk to you about AA direct and even take you to your first local meeting.