The Importance of Anonymity

raditionally, A.A. members have always taken care to preserve their
anonymity at the "public" level: press, radio, television, and films.
In the early days of A.A., when more stigma was attached to the term
"alcoholic" than is the case today, this reluctance to be identified - and
publicized - was easy to understand.
As the Fellowship of A.A. grew, the positive values of anonymity soon became
apparent.
First, we know from experience that many problem drinkers might hesitate to
turn to A.A. for help if they thought their problem might be discussed
publicly, even inadvertently, by others. Newcomers should be able to seek
help with complete assurance that their identities will not be disclosed to
anyone outside the Fellowship.
Then, too, we believe that the concept of personal anonymity has a spiritual
significance for us - that it discourages the drives for personal
recognition, power, prestige, or profit that have caused difficulties in
some societies. Much of our relative effectiveness in working with
alcoholics might be impaired if we sought or accepted public recognition.
While each member of A.A. is free to make his or her own interpretations of
A.A. tradition, no individual is ever recognized as a spokesperson for the
Fellowship locally, nationally, or internationally. Each member speaks only
for himself or herself.
A.A. is indebted to all media for their assistance in strengthening the
Tradition of anonymity over the years. From time to time, the General
Service Office contacts all major media in the United States and Canada,
describing the Tradition and asking for cooperation in its observance.
An A.A. member may, for various reasons, "break anonymity" deliberately at
the public level. Since this is a matter of individual choice and
conscience, the Fellowship as a whole obviously has no control over such
deviations from tradition. It is clear, however, that such individuals do
not have the approval of the overwhelming majority of members.