Most of the meetings I go to are pretty loose. We suggest that there be no cross-talk, but it’s usually okay, unless it goes too far. But one thing I hear a lot is “that topic didn’t have anything to do with alcoholism.”

Humbug, says I. As I was reminded just the other day, only the first step mentions alcohol. The other eleven deal with life, with character, with thoughts and actions. As far as I’m concerned, anything that threatens my serenity is a valid topic.

I guess I just need to attend meetings of people who feel more or less the same way. And, perhaps, the people complaining about this could do the same.