“Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

Copyright© by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. Reprinted with permission.

What happens at an A.A. meeting?

A.A. meetings vary in format and size. There are discussion meetings, speaker meetings, meetings which center around reading A.A. literature, and some meetings are combinations of these formats.

At any A.A. meeting, alcoholics share from their own experience about what their lives were like when they were drinking, what actions they have taken to recover from active alcoholism, and what their lives are like today.

A.A. does not keep any membership records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself when you attend a meeting. Attending an A.A. meeting does not obligate you to anything; you are welcome to make your own decision about whether to come back.

How much does A.A. membership cost?

There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. Groups often take a collection to pay for the meeting’s expenses, such as coffee, rent, and literature, and A.A. members are welcome to contribute as much or as little as they like. Newcomers and visitors are not expected to contribute to the collection.

What can I do next?

If you think you may be an alcoholic or you have a desire to stop drinking, we urge you to learn more about A.A. The best way to learn more is to attend an A.A. meeting. There are hundreds of A.A. meetings in the greater Buffalo area every day, meeting at almost any time of day.

Locate a Meeting

A.A. meetings are designated as either “open” or “closed.” Every meeting will have either an “O” for open or a “C” for closed next to it in the meeting listing. Anyone may attend an open meeting, whether or not he or she identifies as an alcoholic. We encourage anyone who wishes to learn more about A.A. to attend an open meeting. Closed meetings are limited to people with a desire to stop drinking. If you have a desire to stop drinking, you are welcome at any closed meeting of A.A.

Click here to locate a meeting near you

“If you repeatedly drink more than you intend or want to, if you get into trouble, or if you have memory lapses when you drink, you may be an alcoholic.

“Only you can decide. No one in A.A. will tell you whether you are or not.”

Reprinted from “A Newcomer Asks…” with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.