14 DAY TRIAL // Amsterdam is Europe's Nirvana when it comes to illegal substances, alcohol or other services that most countries ban by law. But even for Europe's fun center paying alcoholics with alcohol to keep the streets clean seems a bit controversial.
The idea appeared after a group of men suffering from a chronic level of alcohol addiction were causing a public nuisance in the city. Due to their advanced addiction, it was impossible for them to maintain a job, so a Dutch Foundation came up with a job fit for the men's profile.
The group had to clean the streets of Amsterdam and for each day of work they get rewarded with half a pack of rolling tobacco, five cans of beer and almost $13 (€10). In order for them to keep doing the work required, the beers were handed out in three doses: two in the morning, two at midday and one in the afternoon, after the job was done.
The project was organized by the Rainbow Foundation and financed by the Dutch state and donations and “the aim is to keep [the alcoholics] occupied, to get them doing something so they no longer cause trouble at the park,” Gerrie Holterman, the head of the organization said according to Euronews.
There are around twenty people in the project split in two groups of ten and work three days a week. The work day starts around 9 am when each member receives two beers and one coffee before staring the street clean-up. Frank, a 45-year-old alcoholic that joined the program, confessed that “we need alcohol to function, that's the disadvantage of chronic alcoholism.”
After the first part of the day, the groups receive a warm meal and another two beers to keep up the good work. At the end of the work day, around 3:30 pm, when their shifts are over, the participants receive their last beer before heading home.
Talking about a pragmatic approach, “you have to see things like this, everyone benefits. [the alcoholics] are no longer in the park, they drink less, they eat better and they have something to keep them busy during the day,” Holterman said, and they also help keep the city streets clean.
It's not sure in what amount the project reduces the drinking habits of the alcoholics, but at least they do a service to the community while doing the same thing they would have done anyway.