Lena Savoie
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are available to anyone interested in the program of recovery from alcoholism. There is no minimum or maximum number of people required to hold an AA meeting, and meetings can be held online, over the phone, or in-person. Meetings are typically listed as open or closed. Open meetings are available to anyone, including non-alcoholics who may attend as observers. Closed meetings are for AA members only or for those with a drinking problem who want to stop drinking. AA has been helping alcoholics recover for over 80 years, and meetings are free to attend.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of meetings | Varies from once a week to daily |
| Format | Open or closed; online, telephone, or in-person |
| Attendees | Alcoholics, non-alcoholics, professionals who work with alcoholics, friends and family |
| Content | Members share their experiences, read from the "Big Book", discuss topics, and socialize |
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What You'll Learn
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are free and open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking
- There are no requirements for attendance at AA meetings
- AA meetings are held online, over the phone, or in-person
- Meetings are led by an AA member and may include a moment of silence, a prayer, and/or an introductory reading
- Members are encouraged to share their experiences with drinking, but it is not mandatory
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are free and open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are free and open to anyone who desires to stop drinking. There is no minimum or maximum number of people required for an AA meeting. The meetings are typically listed as "open" or "closed". Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous' program of recovery from alcoholism. Non-alcoholics may attend open meetings as observers. Closed meetings are for AA members only or for those with a drinking problem and "a desire to stop drinking".
The meetings are free of charge and welcome attendees from court programs and treatment facilities. The program is built on the foundation of one alcoholic sharing with another. AA members are available to provide meetings or information about AA upon request. The meetings are voluntary, and the frequency of attendance is a matter of individual preference and need. Most members attend at least one meeting a week, while others attend nearly every day. Newcomers benefit from attending a large number of meetings during their first few weeks and months in a group.
The meetings take on the character of their local area. Members typically share their experiences with drinking, the actions they took to stop, and how they are living their lives today. The purpose of the meetings is for AA members to "share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism". The chair usually opens the meeting with the AA Preamble and a few remarks, sometimes calling for a moment of silence and/or reciting the Serenity Prayer. The chair may also ask if there are any newcomers who would like to introduce themselves, although this is not mandatory.
Many meetings begin with a reading from the Big Book, specifically a portion of Chapter 5 ("How It Works") or Chapter 3 ("More About Alcoholism"). A statement about anonymity in AA may also be read. The meetings often close with a moment of silence followed by a prayer or the recitation of the Responsibility Statement or other AA text. After the meeting, some members may introduce themselves and offer help or share their experiences with getting sober. While this time after the meeting is valuable to many, it is up to the individual whether they want to stay and socialize.
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There are no requirements for attendance at AA meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are open to anyone with a drinking problem and a desire to stop drinking. There are no requirements for attendance at AA meetings. Anyone is welcome, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income, or profession. Non-alcoholics may also attend open meetings as observers.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. This is because AA's program of recovery is built on the foundation of one alcoholic sharing with another. AA meetings are typically listed as "open" or "closed". Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous' program of recovery from alcoholism. Closed meetings are for AA members only or for those with a drinking problem and a desire to stop drinking.
At most meetings, members talk about what drinking did to them and those around them, and share the actions they took to stop drinking and how they are living their lives today. The purpose of all meetings is for AA members to "share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism".
The frequency of attendance is a matter of individual preference and need. Most members attend at least one meeting a week, while others attend nearly every day. Newcomers benefit from attending a large number of meetings during their first few weeks and months in a group. This helps them to meet and hear from other AA members whose drinking experiences are similar to their own, strengthening their understanding of the program.
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AA meetings are held online, over the phone, or in-person
AA meetings, or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, are available online, over the phone, or in-person. There is no set number of people required for an AA meeting, and meetings can be held with as few as two people. AA meetings are typically listed as "open" or "closed". Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous' program of recovery from alcoholism, and non-alcoholics may attend these meetings as observers. Closed meetings, on the other hand, are for AA members only or for those who have a drinking problem and want to stop drinking.
Online AA meetings are often held on Zoom, with the meeting password provided in the meeting description. Some meetings may require you to contact the group directly for the password or other meeting information. Online meetings may be video meetings where participants can see each other, or they may be audio-only with everyone's video turned off.
Telephone meetings are also available, usually in the form of a dial-in conference call. These meetings are often led by an AA member serving as a "leader" or "chair", who opens the meeting and selects a topic for discussion. The background for these discussions often comes from AA literature, such as the Big Book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and As Bill Sees It.
In-person meetings are typically held in treatment facilities and can vary in format. Many groups devote one or more meetings a week to the study of each of the Twelve Steps in rotation, and some meetings may discuss two or three steps at a time. Meetings often begin with a reading from the Big Book, such as a portion of Chapter 5 ("How It Works") or Chapter 3 ("More About Alcoholism"). The meeting chair usually opens the meeting with the AA Preamble and a few remarks, and some meetings include a moment of silence or the recitation of the Serenity Prayer.
Regardless of the format, the purpose of all AA meetings is for members to "share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism." AA meetings welcome attendees from court programs and treatment facilities, and the voluntary nature of membership is one of the strengths of the program.
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Meetings are led by an AA member and may include a moment of silence, a prayer, and/or an introductory reading
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are typically led by an AA member, who serves as the "leader" or "chair". The number of people attending AA meetings can vary, and there is no minimum or maximum number specified. AA meetings are open to anyone interested in the program of recovery from alcoholism, and non-alcoholics may attend open meetings as observers.
The leader or chair usually opens the meeting with the AA Preamble and a few introductory remarks. They may call for a moment of silence and/or recite the Serenity Prayer. The Serenity Prayer is a request for serenity and wisdom to accept and change things and has been adopted by AA as a guiding principle. The meeting leader will often ask if there are any newcomers attending the meeting who would like to introduce themselves. While it is not mandatory to identify oneself, it might be helpful for those attending their first meeting.
Many meetings begin with a reading from the Big Book, which is the foundational text of AA. A common reading is a portion of Chapter 5, "How It Works", which outlines the steps of the AA program and the principles of recovery. Another frequently read chapter is Chapter 3, "More About Alcoholism", which provides a deeper understanding of the disease of alcoholism.
The role of the meeting leader is crucial to the structure and flow of the meeting. They guide the discussion and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to share their experiences and contribute to the meeting. The leader may also facilitate a moment of silence or a prayer at the end of the meeting, followed by the closing remarks. The closing may include a reading of the Responsibility Statement or other AA texts.
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Members are encouraged to share their experiences with drinking, but it is not mandatory
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are based on the principle of one alcoholic sharing with another. Members are encouraged to share their experiences with drinking, but it is not mandatory. The purpose of these meetings is for members to "share their experiences, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism".
At AA meetings, members are welcome to talk about what drinking did to them and those around them, the actions they took to stop drinking, and how they are living their lives today. However, this is not a requirement, and members are free to simply sit and listen if they prefer. The strength of the program lies in the voluntary nature of membership in AA. While many members find sharing their experiences valuable, it is recognised that it is ultimately up to each individual whether they wish to share or not.
There is no set number of people required for an AA meeting. Meetings can vary in size, and each will take on the feel of its local area. Some meetings may be relatively large, particularly those that newcomers attend during their first weeks and months in a group. These larger meetings can provide newcomers with more opportunities to meet and hear from other members whose drinking experiences parallel their own, which can help strengthen their understanding of the program. Other meetings may be smaller and more intimate, allowing members to connect and share in a more personal setting.
The frequency with which members attend meetings is also a matter of individual preference and need. Most members attend at least one meeting a week, while others may attend nearly every day, especially in areas where such opportunities are readily available. Virtual meetings have also added more opportunities for people to attend. Some members may go for longer periods without attending meetings, but it is generally recommended to "keep coming to meetings" as regular attendance can help maintain sobriety.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no minimum number of people required for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Meetings typically last 60 to 90 minutes and may be held in-person, online, or over the phone.
No, it is not mandatory to identify yourself or share your story at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. However, members are encouraged to share their experiences, listen to one another, and provide tips for what has helped them on their recovery journey.
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are open to anyone interested in the program of recovery from alcoholism. Non-alcoholics may attend open meetings as observers, while closed meetings are for members only or those with a drinking problem who want to stop drinking.
The only requirement for membership in Alcoholics Anonymous is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees, and members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish to cover expenses.
