The AA Preamble is a short statement that explains what Alcoholics Anonymous is, who can join, and what the fellowship exists to do. It was first published in the AA Grapevine in June 1947, and many AA groups now read it aloud to open their meetings. Its wording has changed in two notable ways since then, once in 1958 and again in 2021. This post covers what the Preamble says, where it came from, how and why it changed, and how its ideas apply to life in a sober home.
Key Takeaways
- The AA Preamble was written by a Grapevine editor and first appeared in the magazine in June 1947.
- Much of its phrasing was borrowed from the Foreword to the first edition of the Big Book, which came out in 1939.
- In 1958 the word “honest” was dropped from the membership line, leaving a desire to stop drinking as the only requirement.
- In 2021 the 71st General Service Conference replaced “men and women” with “people” in the first sentence.
- For a newcomer, the Preamble works as a plain description of what AA asks of you, which is very little, and what it offers.
What is the AA preamble
The AA Preamble is a one paragraph summary of Alcoholics Anonymous. It describes the fellowship, sets out its single membership requirement, and states its purpose.
You can read the official text of the AA Preamble on aa.org, where the General Service Office describes it as a short definition of AA’s main purpose. In plain terms, it makes six points:
- AA is a group of people who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve a shared problem and to help others recover from alcoholism.
- The only thing you need to join is a desire to stop drinking.
- There are no dues or fees. Groups pay their own way through members’ contributions.
- AA is not tied to any religious body, political group, organization, or institution.
- AA stays out of public controversy and does not back or oppose any cause.
- Its main aim is for members to stay sober and to help other alcoholics get sober.
The Preamble is copyrighted by The AA Grapevine, Inc., and reprints are expected to carry a credit line to the Grapevine.
Where did the AA preamble come from
The Preamble came from the AA Grapevine, the fellowship’s monthly magazine. The Grapevine published its first issue in June 1944, and the Preamble appeared three years later, in the June 1947 issue.
According to AA’s own history of the Preamble, the editor at the time wrote it for nonalcoholic readers who had started picking up the magazine. Those readers needed a quick way to understand what AA is and what it is not. The editor borrowed much of the wording from the Foreword to the first edition of the Big Book, published in 1939.
Over time the Preamble began appearing in all Conference-approved AA publications. It is still used for public information, and many groups use it to open meetings. That double role explains its tone. It speaks to outsiders and newcomers at once, so it avoids jargon and sticks to facts about how the fellowship operates.
How has the original AA preamble changed
The original AA Preamble differed from today’s version in three places: the membership line, the line about money, and the gender wording of the first sentence. The changes came in 1958 and 2021.
| Year | What changed | Who acted |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Original version published; required an “honest” desire to stop drinking; short line saying AA has no dues or fees | Grapevine editor |
| 1958 | “Honest” removed from the membership line; dues line reworded to explain that AA supports itself through members’ contributions | General Service Conference, with the deletion ratified by the General Service Board |
| 2021 | “Men and women” replaced with “people” in the first sentence | 71st General Service Conference, sent to the General Service Board for approval |
The 1958 change began when a Conference delegate pointed out that “honest” does not appear in the Third Tradition. Members agreed it had become almost impossible to judge what counts as an honest desire to stop drinking, and that the word could confuse newcomers. The 2021 change was made to use gender-neutral language. The revised version first appeared in the July 2021 Grapevine.
Why is the preamble read at the start of AA meetings
Groups read the Preamble at the start of meetings because it tells everyone in the room, in under a paragraph, what kind of gathering they are sitting in. It sets expectations before anyone shares.
Each AA group runs its own meeting, so formats vary from room to room. Still, the Preamble is one of the readings you are most likely to hear in the first few minutes. If you are new, it helps to know what happens at an AA meeting before you walk in, so the readings feel familiar rather than strange.
Hearing the Preamble each week also does quiet work for regular members. It repeats that no one is collecting fees, no one is selling a cause, and the group’s only job is sobriety. That keeps meetings focused when outside topics creep in.
The Preamble tells you the door is open if you want to stop drinking, and nothing else is asked of you to come in.
What does each part of the AA preamble mean for a newcomer
For a newcomer, each line of the Preamble answers a worry people often bring to their first meeting. Read that way, it is a list of reassurances.
- Sharing experience, strength, and hope: meetings are built on members telling their own stories, not on lectures or advice from professionals.
- A desire to stop drinking: you do not need to be sober already to attend. Wanting to stop is the only requirement.
- No dues or fees: money is not a barrier. Groups cover costs through members’ own voluntary contributions.
- No outside alliances: joining does not sign you up for a church, a party, or a treatment program.
- No controversy: you will not be asked to take a side on public issues.
- Staying sober and helping others: your own recovery and service to the next person are the whole point.
If you want the bigger picture behind these ideas, the history and purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous as a fellowship fills in how the Preamble fits with the Steps and Traditions.
How does the preamble fit into life in a sober living home
In a sober home where residents go to meetings, the Preamble’s ideas show up in daily routines. Shared experience, mutual help, and a focus on staying sober are what make group living in recovery work.
The line about a desire to stop drinking matters here. Residents arrive at very different points, some fresh from treatment and some with months of sobriety. The Preamble’s low bar for belonging mirrors the respect a good house extends to everyone who is honestly trying.
The primary purpose idea also gives residents a simple test for daily choices. When a conflict, a craving, or a bad day comes up, the question becomes whether a choice supports staying sober and helping the person next to you. That fits with the habits behind succeeding in sober living, such as showing up, staying accountable, and asking for help early.
The Preamble describes the fellowship, while the program itself is laid out in the 12 Steps of AA. Residents who attend meetings regularly tend to meet both, often in the same hour.
Conclusion
The AA Preamble is a brief statement of what Alcoholics Anonymous is and does, first published by the Grapevine in June 1947. It drew its wording from the Big Book’s first Foreword and was revised in 1958, when “honest” was dropped, and in 2021, when “men and women” became “people.” Groups read it to open meetings because it tells newcomers that a desire to stop drinking is all they need. Its core idea, staying sober and helping others do the same, translates well into shared recovery housing. A structured sober home with regular group support gives you a daily place to practice that idea alongside people working toward the same goal.
Find a Recovery Home Built Around Meetings and Mutual Help
The Preamble works best when you have people around you who live its ideas every day. At DJ Housing in Pompton Lakes, NJ, we offer a sober living environment where residents support each other through Group Support that keeps meetings, shared experience, and accountability part of the routine. Call +1 973-397-5978 to talk through your next step and ask about availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Preamble of AA?
The Preamble of AA is a short paragraph that describes Alcoholics Anonymous as a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope to recover from alcoholism. It states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking and that AA has no dues or fees. It also says AA has no outside affiliations and takes no side in public controversies. Its last line names AA’s primary purpose: staying sober and helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety.
What Is the Original AA Preamble?
The original AA Preamble is the version printed in the June 1947 Grapevine. It differed from today’s text in two ways. It required an “honest” desire to stop drinking, and its money line simply said AA has no dues or fees. Its first sentence also referred to “men and women,” which stayed until the 2021 revision.
Why Did AA Change the Preamble?
AA changed the Preamble first in 1958, when the General Service Conference dropped “honest” from the membership line. Members felt it was almost impossible to judge what an honest desire is, and a delegate noted the word does not appear in the Third Tradition. In 2021 the 71st General Service Conference replaced “men and women” with “people” to make the language gender neutral. Both changes kept the Preamble in line with AA’s open membership.
Is the AA Preamble in the Big Book?
The Preamble is not one of the Big Book’s chapters or listed sections. It was written for the Grapevine magazine in 1947, eight years after the Big Book first came out. Its editor did borrow much of its phrasing from the Foreword to the Big Book’s first edition, which is why the two sound alike. Today it appears in the Grapevine and in Conference-approved AA literature.
What Is the AA Pledge?
The words people often call the AA pledge are known in AA as the Responsibility Statement. It is a short pledge in which members take personal responsibility for offering help to any person who reaches out to AA. According to AA’s Box 4-5-9 newsletter, about 10,000 members, families, and friends first recited it with co-founder Bill W. on July 4, 1965, in Toronto. In 2005, AA returned to Toronto for its International Convention under the theme “I Am Responsible.”