On the Internet, publications about unusual practice are widespread, which the Dutch authorities use in the fight against consumption of tobacco among young people. We checked whether such payments really exist.

The statements published on various sites and social networks are slightly different. Someone talks about teenagers in general, someone clarifies age-from 12 to 16 years. Someone reports on monthly payments, someone is about one-time. Some texts appear in the euro, some in dollars (although the Netherlands are completely crossed on the pan -European currency back in 2002). Nevertheless, publications about the revolutionary idea of the Dutch government can be found in large public on VKontakte, popular accounts in Twitteras well as in Facebook, Livejournal And on Pikabu.

Judging by the search on the Internet, about such an unusual strategy that the Dutch authorities adhere to in the fight against smoking, it is known only in Russia (or at least in the post -Soviet space). We were not able to find such messages in English or Dutch. We did not find the relevant references on the official website of the Government of the Netherlands, where published All laws in force in the country, nor in specialized literature.

Most likely, the spread of the history of the award for non-smokers began in the mid-2000s. In 2006, the RIA Novosti website was Published Note "Anti -tobacco campaigns. Precedents ”, which says:“ In Holland, all citizens from 12 to 16 years old, who, after special tests, prove that they do not smoke, will pay $ 200 monthly. ” In 2011, approval in almost identical formulations Added in the article "Smoking" of the Russian -speaking "Wikipedia", where Removed no later than March 2014.

Although it was not possible to find the source of this news, we can make an assumption about its nature. Since 2005, all citizens of the Netherlands Obligated Make medical insurance. Four years later the law Completed - Since 2010, the help “necessary for refusing smoking” was included in the list of insurance services for persons over 18 years old. The Netherlands Health Council, offering this initiative to the government, appreciated The cost of such assistance in € 226 per person annually. If the smoker decided to start the passage of the relevant program, then once a year insurance Paid Corresponding treatment along the techniques of a conventional therapist.

Thus, with a fairly high degree of confidence, it can be argued that Dutch teenagers do not receive any special payments for not smoking. It is possible that at one time such an initiative was expressed, but it was so marginal that it left no traces either in thematic research, or in the publications of the Dutch media, or in legislation. If there was no such proposal at all, then the subsequent messages about it in Russian were either completely invented or appeared as a result of an erroneous translation.

Be that as it may, at present, the young Dutch refusing smoking do not receive special payments for this. They are stimulated in other ways - for example, the whole class, together with the teacher, can register in competition SMOKE FREE CHALLENGE, passing three checks during the year and, if everyone fulfills a promise not to smoke all this time, won a trip to the zoo, entertainment park or sports complex as a prize. State and non -state programs and without cash prizes are fruit: over the past 20 years, the share of the Dutch, who at least once smoked up to 18 years. decreased three times.