Sobriety Date:
Your sobriety date is the date on which you had your last drink or used drugs or placed a bet, or acted out in a compulsive-obsessive manner OR the date you sobered up or cleaned up from your last debauch.
Chip System:
The custom followed by some AA groups of handing out small medallions called ‘chips’ (some use keytags) to mark various anniversaries of AA, CA, NA member’s sobriety dates. Many members, especially newcomers, carry a chip with them as a constant reminder of their commitment to stay sober or clean or free.
Chips:
Small medallions commemorating various lengths of sobriety; i.e., 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 months; years and multiples of years. The first chip which is usually given out to a newcomer is called a ‘desire’ chip. A desire chip signifies the recipient’s desire to stay sober for the next 24 hours.
The traditions of chips, medallions and birthdays vary from group to group and 12 Step Fellowship to Fellowship.
A Brief History of Celebrating Sobriety
There is evidence that early on many people in AA carried personal momentos to remind themselves of the importance of their sobriety. Clarence H. Snyder – “The Home Brewmeister” had his last drink on February 11, 1938 and he carried a medallion (pictured right) made from a silver dollar and a watch fob up until just before his death on March 22, 1984. It has been dated back into the mid-1940’s, if not before, and the holes represent 46 years of sobriety. Clarence started AA group number 3 in Cleveland in 1939, and in the beginning had a higher recovery rate (75%-93%) than Bill and Dr. Bob combined. His story, “Home Brewmeister”, can be found on page 297 of the Big Book, Third Editiion.
Sister lgnatia, the nun who helped Dr. Bob get the hospitalization program started at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron was the first person to use medallions in Alcoholics Anonymous. She gave the drunks who were leaving St. Thomas after a five day dry out a Sacred Heart Medallion and instructed them that the acceptance of the medallion signified a commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery and that if they were going to drink, they had a responsibility to return the medallion to her before drinking. The sacred heart medallions had been used prior to A.A. by the Father Matthew Temperance Movement of the 1840’s and the Pioneers, an Irish Temperance Movement of the 1890’s.
The practice of giving sobriety chips in A.A. is attributed to a Group in Elmira, N.Y. in 1947. The celebration of birthdays came from the Oxford Group where they celebrated the anniversary of their spiritual rebirth. People in early A.A. chose the anniversary of the date of their last drink.
Early celebrations of birthdays resulted in people getting drunk
Dr. Harry Tiebout was asked to look at the problem of sobriety birthdays leading to another drinking bout and he commented on this phenomenon in an articled titled “When the Big “I” Becomes Nobody”, (AAGV, Sept. 65):
“Early on in A.A., I was consulted about a serious problem plaguing the local group. The practice of celebrating a year’s sobriety with a birthday cake had resulted in a certain number of the members getting drunk within a short period after the celebration. It seemed apparent that some could not stand prosperity. I was asked to settle between birthday cakes or no birthday cakes. Characteristically, I begged off, not from shyness but from ignorance. Some three or four years later, A.A. furnished me the answer. The group no longer had such a problem because, as one member said, “We celebrate still, but a year’s sobriety is now a dime a dozen. No one gets much of a kick out of that anymore.”
The A.A. Grapevine carried many articles on chips and cakes and the following is a brief summary of an early one that appeared in Feb. 1948.
Why All the Congratulations? “When we start taking bows (even on anniversaries) we bow ourselves right into the cuspidor.”
Early drunks played a lot of poker in the sober clubs. Plain, colored “chips” are still given out today by many groups around the country to signify a “desire” to stop drinking. Other colored chips represent different lengths of sobriety.
No, I don’t believe that the “chip system” will keep anyone sober. Only a Higher Power can do that. But we are a nation that lives by symbols; what is the American flag but a piece of bunting, unless fully appreciated on what it stands for? Frankly, I hate poker. Yet, I wouldn’t trade a mile-high stack of green stuff for my precious blue pocket piece. – R.G.W., Charlotte, North Carolina
What are your thoughts on sobriety birthdays? Are they a good thing or do they provide a false sense of security – a psuedo-defense against the first drink? Do medallions and sobriety birthdays put personalities before principles?
I’m appalled by it, honestly. I’ve heard many an alcoholic state that they come to A.A. primarily (or even only) because of the fact that “nowhere else can I get a standing ovation for being a f*-up.” This attitude is the direct source of the deterioration of the fellowship, via the abandonment of the program. The Twelve Steps weren’t designed for me to exalt myself; rather, to humble me enough that I be willingly abased.
Come on! Give those of us who are struggling one day at a time to stay sober and even attain a modicum of happiness to feel good about themselves and enjoy the attention on one day out of a year with friends, families and a cake, if they so desire.
The Twelve Steps weren’t designed for me to exalt myself; rather, to humble me enough that I be willingly abased.
I am a sponsor in a Twelve Step group which follows original AA literature and practices carefully. When I was a newcomer, I (wrongly) assumed that anything heard or seen in my baffling early recovery meetings was gospel truth. This included many self-confident proclamations by people who I later learned were not sober at all.
When I saw chips being handed out, I assumed they were incredibly important. Now, after 17 years sober, I quietly explain to sponsees that chips are one of many local habits and customs practiced in some recovery groups. However, I urge them to confirm that any given statement or practice appears in the conference approved literature before believing it is absolutely essential to recovery.
My experience tells me that every day contains all of the necessary ingredients to either keep OR lose my sobriety. I must follow the necessary actions and attitudes every day. And I can only do that for one day — Today. Having a thousand chips in my pocket does not change that basic truth for me.
Trudging the road.
The answer is even more simple than the program of A. A. , in fact the code of A. A. ( love & tolerance ) is all we in fact need to stay sober. P.S. love and tolerance of self first….
Using our inventory process if one was honest with themselves one could easily discover if they sincerely get chips to “show the newcomer” or is there a vague and lurking notion that I’ve got an additional advantage over the cunning nature of my alcoholism because I possess an invisible construct like time?
It is of the unsound egotistical mine that I judge others and create a narrative for their hidden motives. Therefore if someone gets a chip and it’s for the newcomer and there’s very little cock-sureness or prestige involved then that’s wonderful. Way to be of service and of correct size.
For me, I have always been a vicious self seeker thirsty for every drop of merit and recognition I can take. So I don’t get chips. If I did an inventory and asked myself if my motives were pure and why my answer would be I get excited and aroused that I’m being paid attention to, and a double-whammy because now I can tell the white lie that I’m simply “doing it for the newcomer”.
So in conclusion I support others getting them and I try to interact with a Spirit of Love and Purity so I abstain from taking others inventory on hidden motives with chips. But for me I sit on the Dr. Bob side and take his suggestion as if he said it about me.
Don’t clap for me. I’m dangerous.
very well put.. I was supposed to celebrate my 13-year sobriety day on August 16th 2023. I relapsed about 10 days ago with one beer. I won’t be receiving chips anymore either. my motives were not sure. I was looking for the Applause. thank you for your perspective.
Where in the Big Book are chips and cakes? Time in sobriety is extremely important as a marker of achievement one day at a time, however, any critical test by outside eyes would quickly assert its counter-productivity to the core of the program. Installation of Higher Power to fill vacuum caused by abstinence and implementation a day at a time. Standing up for 30 minutes talking about 30 years of sobriety and then claiming my sponsor says I’m doing it for the newcomer – to me at least is the equivalent of beating your children for discipline and suggesting it hurts you more. Without judgement I quickly place such devotees in the same vein as people who wear Covid masks now or in their car driving on their own. Nowadays the Higher Power haters have sponsees with a chair for a higher power. Where I live treatment houses owned privately where persons go for recovery use HP and feed meetings, but a humanist group is lobbying government not to fund because of God and Higher Power. Ironically the loonie left that knowingly or unknowingly occupies AA have their civil liberty friends – putting their program at risk (BC Canada). Where I live in Canada what someone says in a meeting or to a sponsor is not considered privileged and there are certainly privacy issues that might also cause problems. In one group I started 12 years ago because of complaints about weak meetings occupied by the same small group of people with same friends speaking, Our group put numbers in a basket and members would pick a number and then chair would pick. The ironies that occurred from this randomness themselves were pretty cool.
Our local meeting has adapted black 10 minute chips. In my mind as well as everyone else’s sobriety chips mark our milestones of achievement. I like to try to place myself in the shoes of the newcomer or remember my own experience. I can’t think of how receiving a “10 minutes” chip could distribute the feeling of accomplishment to anyone. To me it would be a slap in the face. How the heck are these doled out to people anyway. This puts the person on blast as well.. the unspoken message to me is hideous. Thank God I didn’t have the story I hear so often about someone continuing to show up to meetings wasted cause they just couldn’t get it & receive one of these 10 minute BS chips.. keep coming back..?? Yeah right. How would anyone with sobriety with anonymity being broken about their condition.. a 90 minute chip for the length of the meeting might sting a little less a be more appropriate… ya think..?!?
I have carried around a coin in my pocket for all my years in AA. When I reach in my pocket it’s a nice little reminder. Gives me a nice shot of gratitude.
As I read some of the negative comments here, I can’t resist saying “Easy does it, folks.” It’s a coin. In my 37 years of sobriety, I have seen many hard line, bleeding deacons. They carry their Big Books around and have their highlighters all ready. Beats me what you still need to highlight after all this time. Something they seem to forget is the joy of living. Maybe put that book down for a few minutes and put the principles into action instead. Lighten up a little. Today the same crowd that was whining about coins when this post was created is now whining about Zoom meetings. They will always find something to bellyache about.
As for me? I’ll carry my coin and savor the wonderful gift of sobriety.
I’m Dan. I am an alcoholic, addict.
I read all of these comments tonight…and today,I see it is after midnight. My head is spinning from what was said but thank you everyone. Yesterday was a good day I did not drink or use.
I’ve been an active member of AA for 19 years, with a little over 17 years of continuous sobriety. At 6 months sober I did not raise my hand while coins were being given out. My sponsor was sitting next to me and asked why. I replied to her that I did not want to fall into a trap of staying sober for the sake of picking up a coin. I wanted the real deal. She wrist slapped me verbally for being selfish and told me others needed to see the success of the program so to always pick up a coin. So I did. Willingness. My current sponsor has no opinion about if I choose to receive coins or not.
I no longer choose to receive coins. I do not regularly attend birthday meetings. I have the option and freedom to speak about all my life experiences of sobriety; physical, emotional, and spiritual, in meetings. The more “time” I have, the more life experiences I gather with the direction of my higher power. I share about those and what I do to stay plugged in to my higher power. When I listen to speakers, I listen to their experience, strength, and hope…not their “time”.
Although chips can be a happy and fun occasion, they can also be like the unmedicated Alanon…they do not cause the disease, they cannot cure the disease, but they can definitely complicate it.
You are very fortunate to have unshackled yourself from that first sponsor. Whether “I” agree with her methods/opinions or not is irrelevant; however, her blatant desire to control you most certainly is relevant. you “need” to do a specific act so someone else can “see the success?” Honestly, that sounds rapey to me…like the same way I or any other male might manipulate you by insinuating that if you don’t do “that thing I like,” then you don’t love me. You are well freed.
I do “NOT need” a chip to stay sober. But it is a nice reminder.
This is what I share in meetings. I don’t have yesterday, it is gone. I don’t have tomorrow, it’s not here, yet and may never come. But I do have today. And in His mercy, G-d has allowed me to be able to string enough 24 hour periods of sobriety together to make 28 years. I find that to be humbling that He would do that for me. I am grateful.
Is it about pride or ego for some? Maybe. But that is not my house or my yard or my side of the street. That is theirs and it is none of my business. When I start paying a lot of attention to other people’s business and start trying to correct them, that is when I am headed for trouble.
I know folks who don’t take chips and folks who do.
And, yes, sobriety is a gift from G-d, but it is not free. We have work to do! We have to get down and get honest with ourselves, with G-d and with others. We did not get the gift for doing nothing. We had to do the work of taking the steps.
It reminds me of “faith without works is dead”. I surrender to G-d, do His work (12 steps and whatever else His will is for me) and He rewards my efforts by giving and maintaining my sobriety.
Chips or No Chips.
It doesn’t matter to me today.
However, chips showed me that the program worked, when I was new.
I remember reaching 2 years sober. I didn’t put my name on the “cake list”. My sponsor told me that was a mistake. It showed the newcomer that the program worked. But, I didn’t want the group spending the money.
After that “birthday meeting”, a new guy I had been talking to asked me, “Why didn’t you put your name on the cake list”. After hearing my answer he said, “Oh, that’s okay! I didn’t want cake anyway.”
I wouldn’t miss another chip/cake meeting at my home group ever again.
To those on this thread who keep bad talking the “chip system”, get over yourself! In MY home group, you can put your name on the birthday list if you want. Noone will twist your arm one way or another. The group will provide a chip, cake, and extra fellowship time. That comes from OUR group conscience.
So, don’t try to make me feel bad or grandiose for picking up a chip. My higher power, my group, and myself have earned that chip/cake. I have been reading the BB, working the steps, working with a sponsor, and working with others for quite some time.
Don’t try to make anyone feel more or less than, because they do or don’t pick up chips. The quality of a person’s sobriety is not determined by chips.
Being judgemental is a character defect!
Sobriety is a gift!
Have an attitude of gratitude.
You can mean what you say, without saying it mean.
Much Love…
Well said!
Dear Joseph W.,
BULLSEYE!!!
I stopped taking chips a couple of years ago but I always remember my birthday. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. Chips or not, stay happy and grateful and be a positive influence on others.
Absolutely wonderful
In some AA room I’ve heard that in the past a AA literature plus its phone number used to be given to drunk people in the streets – sometimes they were asleep. So the (volunteer/sober) person let the coin and the literature with the phone number next to the alcoholics so that, if they need help, they could use it, that is to say, they use it to call AA. And that is one of the reasons, coins are being used to celebrate sobriety nowadays in those groups.
Everybody, if chips help you to stay sober keep doing what you are doing collect them! Well done to your sobriety…. One day at a time!
I’ve been back in AA 27 years and not taken one Chip , I decided to follow and study AA literature and history . I’ve turn my will and life over to a Higher Power of my understanding . Now if Logic prevails if i believe in a HP that keeps me physically mentally spiritually sober then Why do i need a Chip ?? Now if all of you people Talk the Talk can you Walk the Walk ?? The question is Do you actually Believe in your HP or don’t you ???
The paragraph above attributing the group in Elmira NY in 1947 is not correct and is in conflict with the Archives of AA GSO (General Service Office). On the website of our GSO in FAQ’s sectionI is the following:
Q. Why do AA members use tokens, medallions, and chips to mark sobriety? When did that practice start?
A. The chip system is thought to have begun in Indianapolis in 1942. The tradition is believed to have started with Doherty S., who originally brought A.A. to Indianapolis. Doherty himself, in a letter to Bill, seems to indicate the practice originated in Indianapolis in 1942.
Nell Wing wrote in 1962 about the history of the chip system: “…The chip system might have begun in Indianapolis….reference was made in a letter from Doherty to the start of giving out ‘chips’ and ‘tokens.’ This was in 1942. I imagine this would be about right, because most of the early groups started in 1940 and it would take about a couple of years to think of anniversaries and marking any time of sobriety. I asked Bill about this and his memory is that the system started in Indianapolis.”
Nell Wing was the first archivist for AA and she lived with Bill and Lois W. for a long time.
The group in New York may have given out tokens in 1947, but they were not the first.
I have not run across any information to the contrary of the above.
Thanks for the clarification Rick!
Thank you so much for standing up for us chip picker uppers. I will pick up a chip every year My HP keeps me sober one day at a time!!!
Ok found LII to thine own self be true what should i do with it
I picked up a ten-year chip once at my AA birthday and remember thinking to myself, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?”
I was depressed, angry, and very unhappy (restless, irritable, and discontent). Sobriety didn’t seem worth it. I considered myself a good member in standing. Opened meetings, made coffee, chaired, greeted, GSR. I was doing what they told me to do. When was the miracle going to happen? I quit going and remained sober for another five years until I finally succumbed to the desire again. To say the least, the result wasn’t pretty. I lost everything.
Long story short- I continued to struggle for another 10 years, still going to meetings the whole time. Looking back there were two things in common. One- I had not worked ALL of the steps, two- I had not worked with ANYONE.
I finally was impressed enough by what I saw in someone to ask them to help me get recovered. He took me through the first 88 pages of the Big Book and I had a spiritual experience. I didn’t think it would happen but it did.
I continue to work the steps in my life EVERY DAY. I also work with newcomers on a regular basis. I now can do that now. I didn’t know how to help anyone before. I was shown how by someone who was recovered.
I am a living example of meeting maker DON’T make it. Do yourself a favor. Find someone who knows how to recover through working the steps. And then go help others. Your life will be changed forever.
Mike F. Guelph
Mike I’ve been back in 27 years now and like you decided to work the Spiritual program of AA . But if i may make a suggestion to you and others , the 4 th edition of the big book has 589 pages Front cover to Back cover not 88 pages . Read page ix of Experience Strengths Hope Book put out by AA .
Bob I can see all your responses…. Perhaps it should be yourself that practises “live and let live”?? I don’t collect chips but I neither opposed others of they wish to and if it helps them. Everybody’s journey is different so I let them get on with theirs and focus solely on mine.
Precisely. Dear Bob C.,
Lights & Ballet much?
I’m not sure who the knuckle head was that started selling these chips and medilions but it’s good for those who sell them and manufacture them. Probably some drunk came up with the idea to get rich selling chips.It also generates income for alanons clubs. Like someone said earlier chips don’t keep you sober, unless it’s your ego at look at me I got 20 years sober and your ego won’t let you drink cause you don’t want to take a new comer chip. What ever you do don’t forget your A b c’s. See God could and would if He were sought.
Bingo Booyaa !
I now have over a decade of sobriety. Connection to God, self examination, and helping others allows me to continually see the truth about alcohol and drugs. I say this because I have relocated a few times, have a family, and still attend AA, but now am feeling a certain way about picking up medallions. The last two have been almost out of a sense of responsibility to those that know me, but now I don’t know what the purpose really would be. I guess maybe I just answered my own question. The oddity of picking up a medallion in front of a huge group of people of whom only one or two may even know who I am is weird to me.
I believe.. That the amount of time a person has is valuable to them..I can acknowledge another members time sober..but its their time…I felt that first day was and still is as important as my last day hopefully all the in betweens will be better than the one before…I can’t ( though I still do at times) call a person dry or sober I got my defects and sometimes they may hang around for awhile…but being grateful for all of us should be on my heart.
I personally like the chips, they remind me I can do it and survive. And “To thine own self be true” keeps me on the straight and narrow.. Sometimes it really helps to read that and physically hold the chip.
Cee instead of holding a piece of Plastic try opening the Big Book daily and read a page a day . Start from the front cover to the back cover .
Rule 62 Cano.
Cee, I hope you are still graced with sobriety today. Thanks for your post.
Thanks for writing on this. I believe if you go back to the origin of the medallion in A.A., Sister Ignatia… “gave the drunks who were leaving St. Thomas after a five day dry out a Sacred Heart Medallion and ‘instructed them that the acceptance of the medallion signified a commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery’ and that if they were going to drink, they had a responsibility to return the medallion to her before drinking…”
The medallion has been on my mind and wondering why I don’t get excited like I did on my first anniversary (or birthday)
Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help another alcoholic achieve sobriety. And the 12 steps are the means to spiritually achieving that purpose.
I like the words of Sister Ignatia as she handed the medallion to a newly sobered…“the acceptance of the medallion signified a commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery’ and that if they were going to drink, they had a responsibility to return the medallion to her before drinking…”
Birthdays or anniversaries are wonderful and up to the individual group to consciously come together to choose how theyre celebrating.
For me, at least now, anniversaries or birthdays will be about not my accomplishments by renewing my commitment to God, A.A., and recovery and if I’m going to drink I have the responsibility to return the medallion to my sponsor first.
Please know I also remember the first 90 days being incredibly hard and those1, 2, 3, and 6 month coins weren’t about celebrating as much as being so incredibly thankful that I made it there; and even more thankful for the meetings every day, reading B.B. and generous grace of God/HP.
Shae Feb6
The idea of chips and coins commemorating time abstinent from the addictive “element” is terrific when considered objectively. But the insights by others as to why this practice runs contrary to the traditions and precepts of AA are persuasive. We imagine a kindly nun saying “ok return this if you feel like drinking” in 1947 and think “Aww…”, yet, this is a manipulation no matter how well intended. If she’d been direct and said “I want to use shame and guilt here, because it’s 1947 ok and I don’t know any other way, so look, return this before you take a drink and you’ll feel at least, dumb I hope and maybe won’t drink, and if you don’t do this well then I assume you’ll feel guilty…I’ll feel better at least, either way because control is what I’m familiar with so…” I mean…in my area where in addition to the coin endlessness we have “ok everyone raise their hands with a year or more…to show the newcomer it works.” I mean, really? That’s about as persuasive as obvious as “detachment…with…love” Detachment is inherently loving because it’s a state of non-judgment. The person who in all likely hood tacked the “with love” qualifier on was probably engaged in shunning. Same here…”Hey are we being full of ourselves…” “Oh no…no it’s because well, because we want the newcomer to know it works. ” Ah. Yeah. I remember as a newcomer that was my first concern…”Wait now, ok…well…the reason I find these early stages so challenging is that…I’m not sure this WORKS…and if I pick up again it’ll be because I wasn’t sure if this WORKS…” The biographies if our founders: let the alcoholic tell his/her story and, this is a one day at a time program. A friend of mine, young, beautiful, began to put the cart before the horse. “No damn it I’m going to make a year if it’s the last thing I do I’m sick of being the only one who can’t raise her hand for a year or more…” So she made her year. She raised her hand with the others. No big shakes…she then relapsed, and I don’t know, is it fair to say when we look at “sobriety” as a club for those who have years under their belt, could it be, potentially fatal ? If the message is “oh you better not relapse because if you do everyone with time will tell you “sit down and listen” (also, not program…) Don’t know. Food for thought.
Tokens and rituals seem to work for many. It helped me when stressed or thinking about drinking to reach in my pocket and rub the chip as a tactile reminder of picking up the chip And celebrating sobriety with the group. Also announcing ones sobriety time can help the newcomers see that long-term sobriety is possible. The true underlying motive of a given practice should determine if it is advisable or not. Is it intended to help oneself and others, or to promote some selfish form of Glory seeking? It is a progressive program and more will be revealed as time goes on.
Chip collecting it promotes self glory seeking , self-centerness and false pride . It makes you forget who really should get the credit . Read page 92 of the 12 & 12 !!!!
The truth is always short and sweet. We’re altering the intention of sister Ignacio giving out sacred heart medallion.
I can only speculate because she never says why she asked the drunk to return the chip. Again I can only speculate that maybe she said that so that she may have the chance of changing the drinkers mind about picking up? Food for thought.
Manny,
I’m with you. It’s simply an idea that says: “come back to me and give me a chance to talk with you before you decide to kill yourself by the installment plan.”
A Nun doing what a Nun does. imagine that.
Manipulative? Naw. That’s stinking thinking in full bloom. Imagine a bunch of drunks with cynical commentary. LOL
Eeyore much, bruh?
Seriously, it’s no different than playfully telling someone to place the chip on their tongue – if it melts, then you can drink.
Relax folks, Rule 62.
For the ‘Big Book Thumpers’ and A.A. Robots, if it makes you feel better to quote paragraph and verse to those listening, might you try remembering that ever enlightening phrase – “… we realize we know only a little…”
My sobriety over the past 3 1/2 decades was never contingent upon how many years I stacked up. It was contingent upon my spiritual condition based a firm reliance upon God, and helping others (12 step). Trust me, I’ve had more difficult times in sobriety than I ever did drinking. For the record, my mindset is to discard the notion of ever calling A.A. a “program.” That’s what robots run on.
For me, I simply think of it as a way of life.
Lastly, in the book of James, in his verse 2:26, it is written: “The body without breath is like faith without works is dead.”
That’s the whole phrase, and it’s an analogy to get off your butt and do something. Talk is cheap! Sitting around ‘hoping’ for sobriety, or musing about grand times is not a formula that actually works. Work – then leave the results up to God is what gives me peace. Again, 12 step work.
When all else fails…
And the standard advertising caveat applies to anything I may puke up: “Your mileage may vary.”
Thanks Manny!
I picked up no poker chips- they represent a gamble and once I became sober, gambling was a thing of the past. The chips work for some and not others…I believe we make a choice in our own lives. 15 years…notapokerchipone- only by Gods mercy!
My surrender coin is placed in the protective cover of my Big Book ad the 12 and 12 Book. My current coin in in my wallet so that every time I take out my wallet I see it. It does not remind me that I am an alcoholic but reminds me that I am a recovering alcoholic and in doing so gives me strength.
Does so many chips keep you sober and why do you need to be reminded so often ?? I suggest you Study the Big Book from Front cover to the Back cover !!!!!!!
I believe there is nothing wrong with the chips just as long as that person understands it is just a symbol of their commitment to ongoing recovering. Just a question, Why suggest someone “Study the Big Book from Front cover to the Back cover” if you do not personally know that person. I was taught that principles were what were important in my ongoing recovery. The Big Book states that Love and Tolerance is our code and I am not seeing that in your replies. Just an observation and not a judgment.
I obviously don’t have as much energy as so many seem to have. It is all I can do to work my own program let alone working the programs of so many others. There is nothing in the Big Book about chips or cakes or celebrating sobriety dates. We are told to turn the will and the care of our lives oven. to “God as we understand Him.”
This makes it a personal matter. To become aggravated, irritated or judgemental over someone else’so personal decision, which is a affects absolutely no one else, is a good indication your not working the steps. Sobriety chips can give one person a sense of pride or a reminder of accomplishment. It is entirely up to the individual. I could have several chips. But i only have 1 of which I am extremely proud and always carry. The 24 hour chip.
Pride = See page 221of Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers .
See pg 92 of the 12 & 12 .
We as fellow addicts are supposed to help and support other addicts especially newcomers. Not bad talk the ways some people use to help themselves stay sober and feel accomplished. Some people may read those things and feel as though they should give up because they feel the way they have done is not acceptable by others and they have failed.
I understand everyone’s views and all on chips and tags and medallions but the fact of the matter is no one person is the same and some people have different ways that help them in their sobriety. I know a few people that have the longest clean time of anyone and they go to meetings but never worked the steps all the way through. I know people who collect their chips because it gives them a sense of pride towards them self for beating something so many people fail to beat and even die from. And on the other hand I know people who just quit and went about their everyday life. Just like anything you have to work your sobriety one day at a time however it works for you. The important thing is not what helps keep each different person sober but the fact that they are today and will work on staying that way tommarow.
Just take care of your own program and you will be fine.
Clearly AA is the mother-ship program of all addictions. Can an addict who never drank but used AA 12 steps to stop, celebrate his birthday in AA? How about a gambler? What about a smoker? I attend open AA mtgs as a practice to work my outside issue that does not get the luxury of abstinence. I praise AA and do consider myself an AA member because I work the same steps and do not wish to start drinking alcohol or do drugs. But i get resentful because no one ever praised me for my abstinence in all my years “sober” or is it “dry”? I dont consider a crack addict sober if he stopped crack, but drinks every weekend; the same as i dont believe an alcoholic can say he is sober if he just beat his girlfriend. I have seen a guys get cake after such an event. Celebrating time of abstinence seems more of an ego trip when it comes down to it. None of the steps even suggest this as a practice. Why it is bad is because it creates a false sense of accomplishment, and creates a sense of expectations- which may or may not ever get met. As a result it violates the steps and traditions themselves, and probably is the cause of many shameful relapsers dying instead of returning to the program. As it is explained in the 12&12 about trad 12: anonymity expressed as humility is spiritual foundation of the program. Cakes & chips, are symbols of dogmatic religious social constructs of which AA is an alternative option; otherwise we are simply a cult using cult like tactics to brainwash members to “sanity”. Positive reinforcements can have negative consequences, AA has no such opinion on such outside matters. A person has the right to celebrate sobriety with their families and friends outside AA, but once they bring it inside then is simply “personalities over principles”.
You’re not a member.
You are missing the point completely. This kind of rant is addictive behavior. You need to get this your sponsor and not bring this into meetings.
I’ve been in AA 27yrs and i haven’t taken a Chip or went and celebrated my coming back to AA . In Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers pg 222 , Dr. Bob said ” Don’t applaud me and don’t applaud any Alcoholic ” , now why did he say that ? The answer is Humility . Also he says in the 12 & 12 ” As an insurance against ” Big shot -ism “we can often check ourselves by remembering that we are today sober only by the Grace of God and that any success we maybe having is farmore His success than ours ” !!!!!!!
We take the chip or cake so the newcomer can see that recovery is possible. We don’t take credit for God’s work.
Mr. Kane, You have hit the bullseye. Succinct & True. Just as the steps are…
Absolutely.
I personally really like the chips/medallions representation. For me, it is a goal achieved in remaining clean and sober for a certain lenght of time. Ir is also a reminder to keep “working the program” so I continue to get positive results. This goes for whether I am receiving one or someone else is. It always gives me hope. I find it to be a celebration of A.A. and the successes we are able to achieve through the Program IF we are diligent in working it consistently.
Bottom line is, it is your journey of sobriety. take one or don’t take one, whatever works for you as long as you don’t pick up that drink or drug!
Very well said!!
Useless and hypocritical. Live and let live. One day at a time. Spiritual progress. Chips are nothing but self promoting and serve no useful purpose but bondage of time and idolatry
this is a comment by a cronic relapser, blahblah. I know a number of these people that hide behind words rather than action. A little pride for putting in the honesty and true recovery work are not in conflict with humility.
Chips, medallions, call them what you will. We stay sober a day at a time, not from chip to chip. An old time told me that if we think we deserve a medallion to recognize our sobriety, maybe the people who never drank should get them too. We are rewarding ourselves for living normal.
Chips are a good idea, in the sense of reminding us of a desire to stay sober. Where I have a difficulty with them is that we tend to keep in mind the failures by going back to the first chip after any slip – Wouldn’t it be better to change the end date for reaching the chip the next chip to reflect the number of days the slip happened? For example: a person might be approaching their 60 day chip on May 1st and slip for two days close to that time – Would it be better to change the 60 day date to May 3rd and focus on the fact that for the first time in a long time the person had reached 58 days of sobriety without a slip?
No. Deborah Jones it should not be like that. It’s about having “X” days sober consecutively. Any “slip” or relapse resets your sobriety birthday, going by the date of your last drink. And that’s the way it should be.
Having said that, although the amount of sobriety you have now may have started over, that’s not to say your recovery is reset and anything before this new date erased. Even though you don’t get to claim that time before the relapse. You never lose that period of your life that you were sober, and you (hopefully) don’t lose the things you learned or experienced, friends you made and the connection with your higher power that you had in that time in your sobriety.
I agree! I have 200 days today and I earned every last one. I am proud of them and no matter what tomorrow brings they can never be erased because I have a head full of AA now and I will never use or drink again the same way God willing.
If you don’t drink and take the steps, you will come to believe you didn’t earn a damn thing. You were given a gift by grace
The tradition of continuous sobriety seem have to begun with the following: Sister lgnatia, the nun who helped Dr. Bob get the hospitalization program started at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron was the first person to use medallions in Alcoholics Anonymous. She gave the drunks who were leaving St. Thomas after a five day dry out a Sacred Heart Medallion and instructed them that the acceptance of the medallion signified a commitment to God, to A.A. and to recovery and that if they were going to drink, they had a responsibility to return the medallion to her before drinking. The sacred heart medallions had been used prior to A.A. by the Father Matthew Temperance Movement of the 1840’s and the Pioneers, an Irish Temperance Movement of the 1890’s. It seems to me that this tradition was meant from the beginning to be punitive. I don’t think there is room in AA for this kind of thinking. I find no reference the Big Book about this. Neither do I find anything in the 12 by 12. If you know of such a reference I would like to know it. It seems to me that this is a tradition that for some reason was picked up from the past and was not part of the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dr, Bob was Not Clean and sober , claiming Clean n Sober when experimenting with LSD as we all know its 24 hours after any mind altering, drug, drink, alcohol which is also a drug too, last AA ,NA are NOT god programs so stop pushing the god thing, Spiritual Yes, BUT as many times as they use the word GOD constantly its saying it is a GOD program and those who push it telling other if you don’t believe in GOD you’ll never make it and look down on those who don’t follow it, If you don’t believe in god your NOT doing the steps, well I don’t , i give credit where credit is do and that is to thy self who made the change and continues to stay clean n Sober Celebrating May 4th 31 years, I have 30+ and don’t have it until , “May the force be with you” ;-) in which i came up with that.
NO disrespect is meant to anyone, what’s good for one my NOT be for another and its proof their are many ways to stay Clean n Sober, Stay true to thy self.
I disagree Jim you slip you start over period so your NOT being true to thy self, still living in the Fog ;-(
Dr Bob never took LSD. Bill took LSD under medical supervision/prescription.
I agree. i think that a members hours should accumulate regardless of slips.I think of an airplane or airline pilot. Pilots don’t fly 24/7. On a day when they don’t fly are they no longer pilots and they have to reset their flying logs to the very beginning. No. Their accumulated flight time is registered in their flight log. An airline pilot with 10,000 hours didn’t fly 24/7 and they can talk about their accumulated hours. The accumulated hours don’t disappear they accumulate. Taking this logic to AA, a member accumulates sober time. If sober time does not exceed relapse time the accumulated hours won’t count until the sober time exceeds the relapse time. The member could keep a log of their sober time. Their sober time continues to accumulate. This gives the member the incentive to increase his or her sober hours so that they can justify declaration of their sober hours.
DO NOT COMPLICATE THE AA PROGRAM ! KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid ! Chips are Not conference approved in AA we stay Sober one day at a time by are Higher Powers grace !
Tell that to rehab centers. I live in PA and the three rehabs by me are AA based and use chips. They even explain how these came about in their psychoeducation bit.
Chips didn’t keep me sober… the Steps did.
However, chips didn’t make me Relapse… my character defects,
and my unmade amends, and my unwillingness to surrender self-will to God’s will did that.
I neither support nor oppose the Chips. They are little round pieces of plastic at the end of the day.
Now lets get back to the 12 Steps of Recovery from addiction.
Thank you for this, I agree to get back to the steps. There are alot of people suffering out there who may show up to a meeting celebrating someones birthday. That person may not get the support he or she may need and feel uncomfortable not knowing what is going on, the newcomer needs to be the most important person in the room and “birthdays ” may keep us from remembering that .
Don’t forget the Traditions with out them there would not be Meetings . Also chips are Not conference approved and don’t keep you Sober only your HP does !
Nor are they conference-disapproved
I personally do not celebrate my sobriety birthday or clean date. It has been several years now. I would much rather work with a newcomer on that day than go to a meeting where the group showers me with a lot of frothy accolades and false security.
I attended a medallion meeting recently and asked the man’s sponsor, "If he is a ‘real’ cocaine addict, that is, beyond human aid, then he didn’t get clean on his own power, he got it from a Higher Power, and that power doesn’t care about "chips" or medallions. However, if he did do it on his own power then he is not a ‘real’ addict and should he really be in this fellowship?" Of course that question stirred up a bit of controversy. I suppose a sobriety birthday celebration shows the newcomer that time can be accumulated if one works this program. I do believe time accumulated is important in the first few months. But once one has recovered, which can take a few weeks to a couple months, if you work this program honestly and thoroughly, time accumulated is not really important – spiritual progress is.
Don’t like getting chips. I am very shy and do not like being applauded for.
Dr Bob said in Dr Bob and the good old timers , Do not Applaud me and Don’t Applaud any Alcoholic !
Thanks, August 25th is my real birthday I’ll be 79 and on May 18th I will have 41 years , wouldn’t have could have ever happened without God and AA and all you wonderful people and nature . Mary Ann
I take every single day of my recovery serious. I think every day counts and for me personally I like keeping track of my clean time. I guess it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something when I get those chips. whatever works for you is good too. Each one of us works our program the way that keeps us clean and sober.
My husband is about to have 10 years sober. He has two family members that have expressed their desire to gift him with a 10 year coin. Is it a problem to receive a coin from each of them? One member has asked that he be the only one and that the other family member not give the coin. I found that odd as my husband would be honored to receive one from both of them as they are both in recovery as well. Please share your thoughts.
Maybe, Cameron, when you realize that it’s not ” About you brother” it’s about showing others the program works….I have 32 years…I don’ t like chips either but my sponsor asks me to become “willing” and to show “acceptance” so that others may benefit from my service . My sponsor has 35 years…….we each have only one day, Cameron , one day at a time.
I get that Chris. Bare in mind I wrote this article 14 years ago (I was 4 years sober at the time), I’ve soften on my argument since. Sobriety time does play a significant part in showing the newcomer that accumulated time is possible by working the 12 Steps and connecting to a “higher power” on a day by day basis and I can also appreciate value of a bit of fanfare for the “member” who is celebrating some sobriety milestone. However, I think what is far more important than just showing the newcomer “it works,” is showing the newcomer through effective sponsorship “HOW” to connect to a “higher power” via the 12 Steps and get that newcomer out working with others so that they too can accumulate permanent sobriety.
Things have changed a lot since AA first started. For example us communicating here online. I am an administrator on a recovery Group online. I’m trying to find some information to deter people from flooding the feed with their Daily Post of every day they’re sober. One person started it, his daily countdown, and now other people have jumped on. We have over 9,200 people. I’m trying to find solid literature regarding celebrating ONLY various length of time.
Great response.
Absolutely.
“The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.”
An addict can only qualify themself so to ask this question is egoic and arrogant. If a person wants to celebrate an achievement they never thought they’d reach it’s up to them.
I take every single day of my recovery serious. I think every day counts and for me personally I like keeping track of my clean time. I guess it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something when I get those chips. whatever works for you is good too. Each one of us works our program the way that keeps us clean and sober.
Why would u ask his sponsor about his business rather than find a newcomer since that’s the reason u claim to go to meetings.. sounds super judgy and like u may want to call ur sponsor
I am a zoom baby, having began my life of sobriety on April 10, 2020
(height of COVID, world pretty much locked down) my first live meeting was held outside in a church parking lot on my 30th day of sobriety. My sister ( 13 years sober, who introduced me to AA ) stood on my right as my sponsor, standing on my left introduced me and announced my one full month of sobriety to a group of alcoholics whom I had never met before this meeting. My sister then pulled a red one month chip out of her pocket, announcing that this was her original one month chip she received at the beginning of her journey. She did not hand it to me though, rather, she handed it to the person on her right. I watched that chip pass from each person until it was given to my sponsor. The circle was completed when he handed it off to me, as I accepted it with tears of gratitude flowing freely down to my chin. I learned something in that exchange.
WE STAY SOBER TOGETHER !!
( and yes, that chip that I truly Cherished has been passed on, humbly and proudly, exact whereabouts today unknown, other than a prayer that goes with it, may the next recipient be blessed with the gift it represents. )
It is not how long an individual has been clean/sober, I know of many individuals with years of sobriety who have still not recovered i.e. dry drunk, untreated addict. They are essentially unhappy, but have managed to stay clean. This not something I aspire to. For me, time is not the issue. I focus on whether I am recovered now.
You said the Key word Recovered ! Forward to the First edition says we have Recovered not Recovering !
Amen
The word Recovering is only mentioned once in the AA Basic Text. It was in reference to a newcomer who just came in.
The truth is, when I was relapsing over and over for 9 plus years, I truly was only in a state of “recoverING”! When my sponsor took me through our text book “Alcoholics Anonymous “ page by page, line by line, I “RecoverED” from “a hopeless state of mind and body” in about 7 months! And that was 14 years ago! I’m grateful for the “Set Aside Prayer”! It enabled me to find willingness in tandem with an open mind!
Teresa C.
Greg K Ottawa
God gave me February 1st as my clean date, I believe God did that to help me get a month in 28 days lol, true story, Coming up to 32 years Feb 1 2023, I loved the tags and chips in my first year, it meant the world to me.
Today when I watch someone new accepting their chip or tag I love it, it makes me smile to see the newcomer smile, In fact last Saturday Amanda at Freebirds Orleans group received her 9 month chip and let me tell ya I’ve seen days where she was on the roller coaster but each and every chip a long her journey she is smiling ear to ear. I can attest to many of those moments through the years.
Now my thought, I recognize my continuous time every 5 years, most time its the group that’s wants to so I’m always happy to contribute for the greater good.
The decision is yours, just know that we are with you every step of the way.
God bless