Brilliant? Maybe. Amsterdam is always thinking outside of the box. Recently, the city put alcoholics to work cleaning the streets.
Before the program was implemented, alcoholics would hang out in parks, starting fights, littering, yelling at park goers. Something had to change if they weren’t. Each person receives 13 Euros, some tobacco, and five cans of beer. Basically two beers in the morning, two beers with a warm lunch, and a beer after their shifts are over.
Turns out, it’s working. The individuals actually drink less because their are distracted by the work they are doing. A few say they like the satisfaction of the work well done, and too tired to get completely plowed at the end of the work day.
Challenge. Find a law that prevents this from working in the United States.