Dear Newcomer,
Welcome! You are the most important part of this meeting. We know that new sobriety can sometimes feel overwhelming—we’ve all been there. That’s why we’ve designed this page to guide you through some of the basics of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and help you feel more comfortable.
When you join Never Alone Again meetings, you’ll notice that we have volunteers ready to help. Take a moment to identify the Newcomer Liaisons at each meeting, as well as participants with hashtags (#) in front of their names:
One # (#NAME) — This person is simply willing to talk. They can be your first line of support if you feel tempted to drink. Don’t hesitate to reach out by sending them a message during the meeting!
Two ## (##NAME) — These individuals are willing to be a temporary sponsor. Sponsorship is an important part of building a sober life. You can private chat them during the meeting or ask for their phone numbers to connect later. If someone has a hashtag, they are inviting you to reach out.
Everyone with a hashtag is available to answer questions, offer support, and help you feel at home. Newcomer Liaisons are also there to help with general questions—about literature, sponsorship, how AA works, or anything you may have heard in a meeting. They can be a valuable resource as you start your journey.
You may also find great benefit in simply listening to others share. Over time, you’ll notice people you feel a connection with—those are the people to reach out to. Building connections with other alcoholics, even one-on-one, is key to recovery.
When you’re ready, we hope you’ll introduce yourself during a meeting and share your experiences or how you’ve related to the topic and speaker. If sharing feels intimidating, that’s completely normal—we’ve all been there. Take your time. We’ve set aside time at the beginning and end of each meeting specifically for newcomers. Many find this a more relaxed, conversational way to participate.
We hope you’ll find our meetings welcoming and safe. As you progress in recovery, your goal may shift toward helping other alcoholics find relief. In the halls of AA, you will never feel alone again.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, take it seriously, even if you feel you are only in the early stages of the illness. Alcoholism kills people. If you are an alcoholic, and if you continue to drink, in time you will get worse.
One of the easiest, most practical ways of keeping sober is the day by day plan — the 24 Hour Plan:
Live in today only. Forget Yesterday. Do not anticipate tomorrow.
You can only live one day at a time, and if you do a good job of that, you will do well.
You are only one drink away from trouble.
Whether you have been sober a day, a month, a year or a decade, one single drink is a certain way to go off on a binge or a series of binges. It is the first drink – not the second, fifth or twentieth – that gets you drunk.
You know that it is possible to stay sober for 24 hours. You have done it many times. All right.
Stay sober for one day at a time. When you get up in the morning make your mind that you will not take a drink for the entire day. Then go to bed at night grateful for a day of sobriety.
Repeat the performance the next day and the next. Before you realize it you will have been sober a week, a month a year, and yet you will have only been sober one day at a time.
*From “A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous (the Akron Manual) first published in 1939.
The following information is made available by The General Service Office.
Tradition Five states: Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
Any person seeking help with a drinking problem is welcome at this group. No A.A. entity determines an individual’s membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. It is this group’s conscience that if any person endangers another individual or disrupts the group’s efforts to carry A.A.’s message, the group may ask that person to leave the meeting.
This group strives to safeguard the anonymity of A.A. members and attendees; however, keep in mind that anonymity in A.A. is not a cloak for unsafe and illegal behavior. Addressing such behavior and/or contacting the proper authorities when appropriate, does not go against any A.A. Traditions and is meant to ensure the safety of all in attendance.
Tradition One states: “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.” Recognizing the importance of group unity, our group wishes to create a safe meeting environment in which alcoholics can focus on achieving sobriety.
Predatory behaviors and unwanted sexual advances are in conflict with carrying the A.A. message of recovery and with A.A. principles.
A.A. does not provide medical advice or detox services; it has no opinion on outside issues, including medication. Medical advice should come from a qualified physician.
The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. Groups and members strive to create a safe environment for the alcoholic who still suffers.
If safety concerns arise, individuals can speak with a sponsor, members of the group, a trusted friend and/or a professional to address the concern. If a concern arises during a meeting, please contact the host or a co-host immediately.
For more information on this topic, see the following service pieces provided at aa.org.
Safety & AA: Our Common Welfare
Important Numbers
National Suicide Prevention: Dial 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available. 1-800-273-8255
AA Central Services: Find your local office number here
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-622-HELP (4357)