A POPULAR restaurant chain has announced that it is no longer accepting cash payments in most of its 135 stores.
Italian restaurant Zizzi now exclusively accepts card, Apple Pay and Google pay transactions in the majority of stores.
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Customers can still give cash tips to waiting staff, but will be unable to pay for their meals with banknotes.
The UK is slowly moving towards a cashless society, due to convenience and efficiency, with the pandemic accelerating this trend.
Zizzi revealed that it has decided to stop accepting cash payments to provide a smoother payment experience.
An explanation on it’s website reads: “To provide the smoothest and fastest payment experience, and to keep our teams safe, we are cashless and we encourage card, Apple Pay or Google Pay transactions.
“You can pay up to £100 contactless on your card and unlimited when using Apple Pay and Google Pay in most of our restaurants.”
And the restaurant chain isn’t the only business to stop accepting cash payments, with popular bakery chain Gail’s revealing that it has stopped taking cash to reduce emissions and improve security.
Sushi restaurant Itsu has also been trialling cashless payments since 2019, whilst Asda has gone cash-free in almost 270 petrol stations.
The supermarket revealed that this is because 90% of payments at its petrol stations were made via card anyway, and explained that it is still taking cash payments in all supermarkets.
The decision to ban cash payments in stores comes at the fury of pro-cash campaigners, with Chairman of the Payment Choice Alliance Ron Delnevo calling it “completely unacceptable.”
“The vast majority of the public want cash to be honoured as a payment,” said Mr Delnevo, who’s campaign group wants new laws that would mandate retailers accepting cash.
“These businesses are letting down the public.”
According to Martin Lewis, businesses are legally allowed to refuse cash payments.
Asked about the issue on ITV‘s ‘The Martin Lewis Money Show’, the Money Saving Expert said: “No, they are not breaking any rules.”
“You are allowed to take card only as long as it’s not discriminatory for race or disability or something.”
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The Bank of England explained that shop owners have the right to decide what kind of payments they want to take.
This means that shop owners don’t have to take cash or any specific type of cash payment, such as Scottish bank notes.
“Legal tender has a narrow technical meaning which has no use in everyday life,” it said.
“It means that if you offer to fully pay off a debt to someone in legal tender, they can’t sue you for failing to repay.”
Zizzi has been contacted for comment.
