Amsterdam, the sometimes backwards-minded, sometimes forward-thinking capital city of the Netherlands, keeps its streets clean by an unusual method. Under the direction of the Rainbow Foundation Project, an organization initially started to help heroin addicts, a "group of chronic alcoholics" who'd been terrorizing local parks are employed to clean the streets and paid in beer, The Daily Mail reported.

"This group of chronic alcoholics was causing a nuisance in Amsterdam's Oosterpark: fights, noise, disagreeable comments to women," Gerrie Holterman, leader of the new project, told The Daily Mail. "The aim is to keep them occupied, to get them doing something so they no longer cause trouble at the park."

The alcoholic street cleaners are compensated pretty well, enough for at least a good buzz, according to The Daily Mail. They're given five cans of beer per day -- two in the morning (with optional coffee), two with a hot meal in the afternoon, and a fifth can to commemorate the day's work. Participants also receive rolling tobacco and 10 Euros, most of which they eventually spend on beer.

"Heroin addicts can go to shooting galleries, so why shouldn't we also give people beer?" Holterman mused, alluding to Heroin Clinics that disperse the drug for free (a similar initiative meant to curb the raucous behavior of addicts). "You have to see things like this: everyone benefits. They're no longer in the park, they drink less, they eat better and they have something to keep them busy during the day."

The Rainbow Foundation, which supports itself through government grants and public donation, appears to be giving its new employees newfound purpose, to varying degrees, The Daily Mail reported.

"We also feel satisfied, a job well done, contributing to society despite the fact that we drink," said Vincent, 48, a former baker. "What's also good is that the beer they give us is light, 5 percent, not 11 percent or 12 percent like I used to drink."

"Of course we drink in a more structured way, but I don't think that we drink less," said Frank, one of the beer-for-work crew. "When we leave here, we go to the supermarket and transform the 10 euros we earned into beers. When the supermarket opens at 8:00 am, we're the first there so we can get some drinks."

Vincent disagreed. "When I get home, I've already had a busy day and I don't necessarily want to drink," he said.