Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so they may solve their common problem and help others recover from alcoholism. The program is built on a foundation of peer support and spiritual principles, offering a path to sobriety for millions worldwide. If you are struggling with alcohol use and are considering attending a meeting, a common and understandable question arises about your current state.
The AA Policy on Intoxication
The short answer to whether you can attend an AA meeting while intoxicated is yes. The fellowship is designed to help the suffering alcoholic, recognizing that a person’s need for help is often greatest when they are actively drinking. AA’s structure is guided by its Twelve Traditions, which ensure the fellowship’s unity and survival.
The Third Tradition is the guiding principle, stating that the only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. This requirement is intentionally broad, welcoming anyone who self-identifies as having a problem with alcohol, regardless of their current sobriety status or level of intoxication. When a person walks into a meeting, they are declaring that desire, which is all that is required to be present. AA is a non-professional, mutual-support organization where members are the resource for recovery.
Conduct Expectations and Group Safety
While the policy accepts an intoxicated person, attending a meeting involves certain conduct expectations. These boundaries exist to protect the safety and welfare of all attendees, not to punish the newcomer. Each group maintains order through a “Group Conscience,” the informed collective opinion of its members. This group autonomy ensures that the primary purpose—carrying the message of recovery—can be maintained for everyone present.
An intoxicated individual is welcome to sit quietly and listen to the meeting, even if they are physically unwell. However, behavior that becomes excessively disruptive or threatening is not tolerated, as it prevents the group from functioning effectively. Examples of disruptive behavior might include shouting, physical aggression, or a refusal to allow the meeting to proceed. If a person’s conduct begins to threaten the common welfare of the group, members may quietly approach them to ask them to settle down or, in rare cases, to leave.
This action is taken out of concern for group safety, not as a judgment on the individual’s condition or desire to recover. If the situation escalates and a member’s safety is at risk, the group may call for outside professional assistance, such as emergency services. Disruptive behavior is handled with the hope that the person will return when they can participate without compromising the environment for others seeking help. The goal is to balance welcoming the newcomer with maintaining a peaceful, secure space.
Alternatives for Immediate Assistance
If you are severely intoxicated, physically unwell, or feel too overwhelmed to attend a meeting, immediate alternatives are available. Acute alcohol intoxication, where a person is unresponsive, has shallow breathing, or is at risk of choking, constitutes a medical emergency. In this situation, the immediate action is to call emergency medical services for professional care. Medical professionals can monitor the body’s functions while the alcohol is metabolized.
If you are not in a medical emergency but need immediate connection, you can reach out to a local AA intergroup or central office, which typically operates a 24-hour hotline. These phone lines are staffed by volunteer members ready to talk with you confidentially. Calling a sponsor or a trusted AA member can also provide immediate, one-on-one support outside of a formal meeting setting. Other organizations, such as SMART Recovery or local crisis centers, offer different models of support focused on self-management or harm reduction.