I was always surprised at the low prices in NYC delis. I remember getting a six-pack of premium beers like Bass Ale, Beck’s, Coors for $7.
You must be a youngster (but not that young if you went to Nam). I remember six-packs for less than $3. The all-time best was a Happy Hour draft beer in the San Francisco Financial District in 1973 for a mere 25¢!! That's $1.45 in today's dollars which would be an astounding price for a beer in San Fran.