The Other Uses of Alcohol Beyond Consumption and Enjoyment

Sigma librarian has asked whether people have ever used alcohol as currency. Alcohol was very much a feature of the exchange that used to go on between Europeans and kind of African leaders in the exchange of slaves. There would be an element of gift giving of alcohol and other interesting objects that were of value to the African leaders by the Europeans. It's quite interesting because it brings in alternative modes of currency and economic exchange beyond simply monetary which we understand today.