AA Chip Colors & Meanings

The AA chip color system gives each milestone a distinct identity. While colors can vary slightly by region and intergroup, the most widely used system is:

**White** — 24 Hours / Desire Chip. The first chip. Given to anyone who has a desire to stop drinking. Picking up the white chip at a meeting is a public declaration of intent — the most courageous moment in many people's recovery.

**Red** — 30 Days. One month of sobriety. The first monthly milestone and the first evidence that the decision made on day one is holding.

**Gold** — 60 Days. Two months of continuous sobriety. By 60 days, the initial withdrawal has passed and new patterns are beginning to form.

**Green** — 90 Days. Three months. Often called the most critical milestone in early recovery. The brain begins significant healing at this stage, and the foundation of long-term recovery starts to solidify.

**Purple** — 6 Months. Half a year of recovery — proof that the commitment is sustained, not just a fresh start.

**Dark Blue** — 9 Months. Nine months of sobriety. Three-quarters of a year, and a major marker on the way to the first annual medallion.

**Bronze** — 1 Year. The first annual medallion. Bronze is the traditional color for one year across most AA groups — a shift from monthly chips to the yearly milestone that marks full membership in long-term recovery.

The color system in AA does more than organize milestones — it creates a visual language of progress. When someone new walks into a meeting and sees members holding different colored chips, they see proof that the program works: people are staying sober, and for longer and longer.

For the person receiving the chip, the color is a shorthand for everything they've been through. Walking up to get a green chip means everyone in that room knows what three months looks like. There's no need to explain the work — the color says it.

Note: Chip colors are not standardized by AA World Services and can vary by region, district, and individual group. The system above reflects the most commonly used convention in the United States.