During its first decade the founders and early members of A.A. acquired experience indicating certain attitudes and principles would help to preserve the integrity of the A.A. Fellowship. These principles were first published in the A.A. Grapevine in 1946 and they became known as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were accepted and endorsed by the membership as a whole at the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.
While the Twelve Traditions are not binding on any A.A. group, a majority of members and groups have adopted them as a basis for conducting A.A.’s internal and public relations. Below is the short form of these traditions; there is also a "long form" of the traditions: click here.