Alcoholics Abstinence Association started at 1935. At that time, a new york man who successfully gave up drinking for the first time in many years went to Akron to do business and found another alcoholic there. A few months before he quit drinking, the new york man noticed that his desire to drink declined when he tried to help other alcoholics. In Akron, he was introduced to a local doctor who had a drinking problem. When the businessman and the doctor tried to give up drinking together, they found that their ability to stay sober was closely related to the amount of help and encouragement they could give to other alcoholics.

In the past four years, the movement has developed slowly, without a name, any organizational form and any introductory documents. Later, regional groups were established in Akron, new york, Cleveland and several other cities.

1939, with the publication of Alcoholics Abstinence, the name of Alcoholics Abstinence Association came from it. With the help of many friends who don't drink, this group began to attract the attention of the whole United States and even the whole world.

Since then, a service center has been opened in new york, answering thousands of inquiries and distributing publicity materials every year.