Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
October
Tradition 10 · 31 readings
Tradition 10
"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."
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.
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.
October 1
Half a Million
the threat
October 2
As We Elect
before the tradition
October 3
No Views Whatever
the threat today
October 4
Eleven to Two
how a group breaks it
October 5
All Excepting the Name
how it gets captured
October 6
The Right Kind of Education
the threat
October 7
Fifty Per Cent
before the tradition
October 8
The Account Has No Face
the threat today
October 9
Read From the Front
how a group breaks it
October 10
A Silence That Large
how it gets captured
October 11
The Other Side of the Same Fight
the threat
October 12
A War Machine That Would Never Fight
before the tradition
October 13
Known
the threat today
October 14
However Good
how a group breaks it
October 15
A New Instrument for Social Action
how it gets captured
October 16
Which Drunks Go to Jail
the threat
October 17
The Disappointed Friend
before the tradition
October 18
Even a Worthy One
the threat today
October 19
The Flyer
how a group breaks it
October 20
Outvoted by the Budget
how it gets captured
October 21
Sober as a Judge
the threat
October 22
Kind Ones, Of Course
before the tradition
October 23
No Defense Whatever
the threat today
October 24
On the List
how a group breaks it
October 25
Cooperating Without Affiliating
how it gets captured
October 26
They Assumed
the threat
October 27
Those Blasted Traditions
before the tradition
October 28
Not the Slightest Complexion
the threat today
October 29
One Tradition to Defend Another
how a group breaks it
October 30
The Vacant Chair
how it gets captured
October 31
We Were That Excited
the threat
JanuaryTradition 1
FebruaryTradition 2
MarchTradition 3
AprilTradition 4
MayTradition 5
JuneTradition 6
JulyTradition 7 · liveAugustTradition 8 · liveSeptemberTradition 9 · liveOctoberTradition 10 · liveNovemberTradition 11 · liveDecemberTradition 12 · liveDaily 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).