All donations are strictly voluntary. If you don' t want to contribute or can't afford it, you don't have to . At the end of meetings, at least in the United States, the group usually joins hands and says either the Serenity Prayer or the Our Father. As before, if you do not want to participate in this custom, you do not have to . There are often AA pamphlets or books available at meetings.
Pamphlets are free.
The books are available at a very modest price. If your money is in short supply, the group will often either tell you to take the book and pay for it when you can, or be willing to make some other arrangement. Recommended book titles for newcomers are Alcoholics Anonymous , the Fellowship's basic text, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions , and Living Sober . When attending a meeting, you should keep in mind that the courts do not consider statements made there to be privileged. Speaking at an AA meeting is not like speaking to your doctor, lawyer, clergyman, psychologist, or therapist.