@Catogrande 40! years ago I spent a couple of months hitching through Scandinavia. In those days lager was 5 quid a pint!!!
Nevertheless everyone was very generous. I seldom got a lift without an accompanying meal and a beer - which was awkward as your host would offer you a can and then not have one themselves as it was too fucking expensive.
There were also a reasonable number (in the 20's) of people dying every year when their backwoods stills exploded.
Ferries were packed with people getting absolutely shitfaced for the day on duty frees.