Tradition 6 in Alcoholics Anonymous

Group therapy

FatCamera/E+/Getty Images

At a Glance

Tradition 6 of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps keep the focus on the group. Tradition 6 states that a group will not endorse outside organizations or causes. 

The 12 Traditions serve as a guideline or manual for 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon. In this article, we’ll briefly cover Tradition 6 of AA.

What AA's Tradition 6 Says

Traditional 6 of AA has to do with how the group sets itself apart from other groups. To preserve the integrity of the program and maintain its primary spiritual goal, a 12-step support group will not endorse any outside organizations and causes.

"Tradition 6: Our groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose."

And the Al-Anon version adds: "Although a separate entity, we should always cooperate with Alcoholics Anonymous."

The Long Form Version of Tradition 6 in AA

AA has a long-form version of all its traditions that explains each in more detail. Here's the long form of Tradition 6:

"Problems of money, property, and authority may easily divert us from our primary spiritual aim. We think, therefore, that any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from the spiritual. An A.A. group, as such, should never go into business. Secondary aids to A.A., such as clubs or hospitals which require much property or administration, ought to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups. Hence such facilities ought not to use the A.A. name. Their management should be the sole responsibility of those people who financially support them. For clubs, A.A. managers are usually preferred. But hospitals, as well as other places of recuperation, ought to be well outside A.A. - and medically supervised. While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. An A.A. group can bind itself to no one."

What Tradition 6 in AA Means

As individuals, members of 12-step support group are free to endorse, finance, or affiliate with any religious, political party, charitable, or civic organization that they wish. As a group, however, these endorsements could lead to misunderstandings and confusion.

Experts say that since many outside organizations have tried to use the name of Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon Family Groups to promote their own treatment programs or therapy approaches, it's more important than ever that Tradition 6 is observed.

Although individual members can recommend or even be employed by these organizations, the group will avoid associating its name with outside enterprises, particularly professional treatment facilities or therapists.

Why Tradition 6 in AA Is Important

While members of the group might be interested in starting a 12-step club or supporting a shelter for abused spouses, it’s important that they only do so as individuals and not as a group.

Trying to get involved as a group could lead to situations where there are power struggles over finances and control, which would divert the attention and fellowship of the group away from its primary focus—recovery.

Members of the group come together each week to seek the experience, strength, and hope of others. If the group were to spend part of that time talking about outside activities, it would take away from that crucial support. If outside issues are allowed to dominate the discussion, it negatively affects the unity and focus of the group.

As with other traditions, Tradition 6 of AA is meant to guide people toward recovery. This helps ensure that the focus of the group stays on supporting members throughout the process.

2 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Alcoholics Anonymous. The Twelve Traditions (long form).

  2. Take the 12. Tradition 6.

Additional Reading

By Buddy T
Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.