Alcohol and ammo as trade items has some historical context. The fur trappers of the 18th century would load up on them when they brought their pelts in. But, as Hikermor pointed out, it's a fantasy.

Also, like Hikermore, my maternal grandmother came to the US as a result of the Russian Revolution. They weren't involved directly in the war, but suffered the affects of it. The devaluation of the ruble, which the family fortune was in, cost them most of their liquid assets. Shortly after, the arrival of the losing White Russian Army in Manchuria forced them to flee. It wasn't sewing needles, but the great grandmothers remaining jewelry that bought them passage out.

The point is you need both day to day goods, and bribery goods, for when things go bad. IMHO, in modern context, that would mean consumables like batteries and status items like high end personal electronics. A couple boxes of 5.56 and some rotgut is going to be of limited value.