AA Chip
A medallion given in Alcoholics Anonymous to commemorate periods of sobriety. AA chips originated in the 1940s and typically come in different colors representing various time milestones.
AA chips are one of the most recognizable symbols of recovery. The chip system was introduced in the 1940s as a way to make sobriety milestones tangible and celebrate progress in front of the community.
Different colors represent different time periods. While colors can vary by region and meeting, the most common system is: White for 24 hours (also called the desire or surrender chip), Red for 30 days, Gold for 60 days, Green for 90 days, Purple for 6 months, Dark Blue for 9 months, and Bronze for annual milestones starting at 1 year.
At meetings, picking up a chip is a moment of community celebration. The person receiving the chip often shares briefly about their journey, and the group responds with applause and encouragement.