I mean as opposed to just handing out cash, that some critics fear people would just blow on hookers and blow.

A) attempting to police that is extremely, extremely expensive not to mention absolutely chockful of corruption and abuse

B) repeated studies and measurements have shown that attempting to police it just doesn't do anything.

Sounds like the ”Country that tried nothing says it’s impossible” meme.

> Issue special debit cards for UBI

> Issue special machines/payment processors for those cards to registered merchants, landlords, and utility and healthcare providers.

We have tried that. It's cheaper and more effective to just give people a wad of cash.

But people who are against UBI by default seem to want some kind of "policing" before they'll consider it.

Various countries have various things that operate on similar principles, such as transit cards etc.

Hell, even VIDEO GAMES have done this: Special "premium" currencies that you can use only for certain things, buy with realmoney or earn through various activities, and cannot trade.