Originally Posted by
zorah 
i don't understand why you have to say "i'm xxx and i'm an alcoholic" at aa meetings... did the founders of aa insist that people identify as alcoholics?
You don't have to say it, and personally, I advise against it. It does not appear to have been the custom originally. I have listened to recorded AA talks from the 1950's, and have yet to find one where someone says "Hi, I'm Bob, and I'm an alcoholic." I've previously asked AA's to send me a recording of someone saying this from that era if they know of one, but that has yet to happen. If anyone has one, do let me know.