ABSTRACT
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The first sentence of the preamble encapsulates the essence of the A.A. programme, in particular that it is a fellowship. A fellowship is defined as a "society of people sharing mutual interest or activities". When first contemplating joining A.A., many people think that they have to stand up in a large group and say that they are an alcoholic. In fact all that is required for membership is, as stated in the second sentence of the preamble, "is a desire to stop drinking". The A.A. preamble states categorically that it has no alliance with any "sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution", nor wishes to become involved in any ideologies. Effectively this means that all are welcome regardless of colour, class, sex, or creed.
