Tradition 5 · May 6

Straight A.A.

Daily Traditions · May 6

The threat

In 1947 the threat to A.A.'s one purpose came from members who loved A.A. too much. Bill W. described the "do everything" member (A.A. pamphlet P-17, p. 24): "he also thinks we have the answer for everybody and everything touching alcohol." That member wanted A.A.'s name and credit behind research, hospitals and education, and he argued that millions could be raised for good works. It sounded generous. Bill's answer, from experience, was flat: "neither A.A. as a whole nor any A.A. group ought to enter any activity other than straight A.A." Straight A.A. means the plain work and nothing added: alcoholics carrying the message to the alcoholic. The Long Form says it in one line. Each group has "but one primary purpose—that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers" (Big Book, p. 563). Every side activity a group adopts takes time, money and attention away from the drinker it exists for, and it gives the public reason to wonder what A.A. is really for. A drinker who thinks A.A. is a campaign has one more reason to stay away. Today the pull is a cause that sounds close to home: a rally, an awareness walk, a joint event with a program. Test it tonight: list everything your group puts its name or money into, and ask which of them carries the message.

Sit with

A group that does many good things can lose the one thing only it can do. What does my group put its name to besides the meeting?

Grounded in: P-17, p. 24 (Dangers in Linking A.A. to Other Projects, 1947); long form, Tradition 5 (Big Book, p. 563).

Tradition 5

"Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."

Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.

And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.

What the Traditions actually say → The Long Form, p. 563 → Search the Big Book → Every day this month →

Ask Recovery Einstein about Tradition 5 → Get the app →

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Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).