Page "Alcoholics Anonymous" Paragraph 22

AA meetings are " quasi-ritualized therapeutic sessions run by and for, alcoholics ".

They are usually informal and often feature discussions.

Local AA directories list a variety of weekly meetings.

Those listed as " closed " are only for those with " a desire to stop drinking ", while " open " meetings are available to anyone.

At speaker meetings one or two members tell their stories, while discussion meetings allocate the most time for general discussion.

Some meetings are devoted to studying and discussing the AA literature.

Except for men's and women's meetings, most meetings targeting specific demographics ( including newcomers, gays, and young people ) do not exclude other alcoholics.

While AA has pamphlets that suggest meeting formats, groups have the autonomy to hold and conduct meetings as they wish " except in matters affecting other groups or A. A. as a whole ".

Different cultures affect ritual aspects of meetings, but around the world " many particularities of the AA meeting format can be observed at almost any A. A. gathering ".