What should you not say in AA?

In AA, which usually means Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, there are informal guidelines about what you should avoid saying to keep the meeting safe and supportive for everyone trying to stay sober. You should not interrupt others, give unsolicited advice, or say things like you should do this or you are doing it wrong, because AA emphasizes sharing your own experience rather than telling others what to do. You should avoid graphic descriptions that glorify drinking, like talking in detail about how great alcohol tasted or how fun drunk stories were, because that can trigger others. You should not mention specific people’s full names or break anonymity by saying who you saw at a meeting outside the meeting. You should not use hateful language, harass others, or make political or religious speeches, since AA is meant to be non-political and inclusive of all beliefs. You should also avoid saying you are cured or that you can now drink normally, because AA teaches that alcoholism is a lifelong condition. Crosstalk, which means directly responding to or criticizing another person’s share, is discouraged in most meetings. The general rule is to speak from the I perspective, keep it about alcoholism and recovery, and keep it respectful.