Tradition 11
“Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.”
“We need to be very careful about how we present ourselves to the public. We want to attract people to A.A., not promote ourselves.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition 11
Tradition 11 defines how AA presents itself to the world: quietly, by example, without advertising or self-promotion.
What it means
“Attraction rather than promotion” — AA doesn’t advertise, recruit, or campaign. People find it because it works, and word spreads naturally. That’s the only promotion AA needs or wants.
“The A.A. groups themselves will be morally certain that the road to destruction lies in the abandonment of our Traditions. And so we have no desire to promote ourselves.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition 11
“Personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films” — members don’t identify themselves as AA members in public media. Not because they’re ashamed, but because personal anonymity protects both the individual and the fellowship.
“The spiritual substance of anonymity is sacrifice. Because A.A. needs the protection of full anonymity at the public level, the individual must be willing to sacrifice his desire for personal recognition.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition 11
Why it matters
“If even one high-profile member breaks anonymity publicly and then relapses, it damages AA’s reputation and discourages newcomers. Anonymity protects the fellowship from the failures of its members — including its most prominent ones.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition 11
AA’s public face is not any individual member. It’s the program itself — the steps, the traditions, the experience of recovery. That’s what attracts people. Not celebrities, not spokespeople, not marketing.
“We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Tradition 12
Common struggles
“Can I mention I’m in AA on social media?” Tradition 11 applies to press, radio, and films — public media. Many members interpret this to include social media. The principle is: don’t identify yourself as an AA member in a way that could reflect on AA if you relapse.
“A journalist wants to write a story about AA. Can we help?” Yes — AA cooperates with press. But members who participate should maintain their anonymity, and the story should reflect AA’s principles, not promote individuals.
Speaker talks on Traditions
- Beginners Guide to Traditions — ACA Speaker Meeting
- Why Traditions Matter — Erin D, Jody O
- Service and Traditions in ACA Fellowship — ACA Speaker Meeting
Related tags
principles · fellowship · tradition
All Traditions
Tradition 1 · Tradition 2 · Tradition 3 · Tradition 4 · Tradition 5 · Tradition 6 · Tradition 7 · Tradition 8 · Tradition 9 · Tradition 10 · Tradition 11 · Tradition 12