Anyone who tries to scare or intimidate anyone else into joining AA is going against everything AA stands for. They forget the tradition that says AA seeks by attraction, not promotion. People who use this scare tactic lead others to believe they represent the AA program when indeed they're the antithesis of it. Unfortunately, there are people like that out there.
I'm in AA and have been for a number of years. It worked for me. If I see someone struggling with sobriety, I'll suggest they give AA a try. If they find they don't care for it, fine. It's not the only game in town.