The Basket Passed and You Were Broke

The basket came around and your pockets were empty. A.A. has no dues, and membership ought never depend upon money. You can pass the basket and stay.

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Key takeaway

The basket reached you and your pockets were empty. You can pass it. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. The long form of Tradition Three says membership ought never depend upon money or conformity. You are welcome with a desire to stop drinking. Stay and listen.

Last updated: 2026-10-06

The meeting is already going. Someone's share is in the air, and the basket is coming down your row, a few dollars and some folded bills, closer every chair. Your pockets are empty. You checked them in the hall. Your face is hot before the basket reaches your knee.

You can pass it. You can stay.

Empty pockets when the basket comes

There are no dues or fees. Anyone with a desire to stop drinking is welcome, regardless of income. The long form of Tradition Three says membership ought never depend upon money or conformity. You do not have to become solvent before you are allowed to sit here.

Let the basket move to the next hand. You do not have to announce why. People pass it for all kinds of reasons, and yours can stay in your coat. There is a plain page about the basket if you want to know how groups pay for the room they rent. The building is a rental. It is not the program. Contributions from members are how groups support themselves. A dollar you do not have is not a ticket.

Your hands can stay on your knees. The share can keep going. You are still in the meeting.

If a joke about being broke shows up in your mouth, you can let it go. You do not have to entertain the row. The next person will speak, the basket will finish its lap, and you will still be someone who wanted to stop drinking enough to take this chair. That desire is the requirement. Count the tiles if your eyes need a job. Stay until the close, even if your face stays warm. The empty pocket can ride home with you. It does not get to write you out of the room.

You can pass it and stay

Each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. That includes a person who could not put a dollar in. You can just listen. The chair may ask if anyone new wants a name. You can pass on that too. What the hour usually feels like is worth knowing, and none of it is a cover charge.

When the meeting ends, people often stay and talk. You can leave with the same empty pockets you walked in with. You can come back next week in the same condition. The desire is the membership. If you are sick, shaking hard, confused, or cannot breathe, call 911. A basket is not medical care.

Tonight

Pass the basket. Stay through the rest of the meeting and listen. Leave when you want to. You were welcome before the basket reached you, and you are welcome after it goes by.

A meeting is peer support. If you need a treatment referral, call (800) 653-9376. The call is free to you. Treatment providers pay for the referral. Call or text 988 in a mental health crisis. Call 911 if you are in danger.

Additional Resources

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Common Questions

Do I have to put money in the basket?

No. There are no dues or fees. You can pass the basket to the next person with nothing in your hand. The long form of Tradition Three says membership ought never depend upon money or conformity. A desire to stop drinking is enough. You can stay for the rest of the meeting and listen. Groups are supported by member contributions, and a contribution you do not have is not a ticket.

Will people know I am broke?

They will see you pass the basket, the way people pass it every week for all kinds of reasons. You do not have to announce your pockets. You can look at the speaker, or at your hands, and let it go by. After the meeting, staying to talk is up to you. You can leave when the hour ends. Empty pockets do not cancel a desire to stop drinking.

Does an empty pocket mean I am not a member?

No. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. The long form of Tradition Three says membership ought never depend upon money or conformity, and the welcome includes income. You can be broke and still be in the right chair. You can listen. You can come back next week with the same empty pockets and the same desire. Nobody is selling you a seat.

What is the basket actually for?

Members' contributions are how groups support themselves. Rooms are rented. The building is a rental, and it is not the program. There is a plain page about the basket if you want the longer version of that. You can still pass it tonight. You do not have to pay to hear the message. Tradition Five says each group has one primary purpose, to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

Can I stay if I pass it?

Yes. Stay. Listen. The chair may ask if anyone new wants a name said out loud, and you can pass on that too. There is no fee hiding at the end of the hour. When the meeting closes, you can leave or you can stay and talk. Either one is allowed. Bring yourself back to another meeting when you can. The desire is the membership.