When I said ‘barter’ I wasn’t talking liquor, I don’t drink, I was thinking something they might need...an extra animal fur, or a can of food, etc.
When it comes time to barter, booze and cigarettes and other tobacco products are prime merchandise to get the things you need.
In Sarajevo, canned milk was like gold.
Tea, coffee, sugar.
The reference to liquor was in answer to cherry's question.
Since PR took over the veterinary clinic on the island we have been moving toward accepting alternative forms of payment - Gold, silver, fish, furs, moose, venison, lumber, labor, etc. Of course we still need a certain amount of dollars for taxes and inventory purchases etc.
PR is not a DVM. She bought the building and the business. The Vet is only on the island about 100 days out of the year (Still looking for a DVM to do rotations) so the business is mainly animal feed, pet supplies, grooming and first aid service.
Barter is not uncommon around these parts now. We have made purchases with gold and silver. I was offered sea otter furs in exchange for a rifle. We paid for repairs to the F150 in exchange for dog grooming. The transition out of cash will be relatively easy for us.