All stores I have visited the last year accepted card or Swish but around 15 % of them did not accept cash. The argument is that cash is expensive to handle and it increases the risk of robbery.
I have only heard about some old people (bank trust issue) and people with economic problems (no credit card) that feel like this is a problem.
It's beginning to happen in the US, too. One of my favorite restaurants, Sweetgreen, no longer accepts cash, and I'm boycotting them. I'd like the option to make an anonymous transaction, and I worry that we're entering an economy where those without access to banking services are excluded.
Is that a prepay restaurant? If the restaurant lets you pay after you finish eating, then by law (31 U.S. Code § 5103), cash is legal tender for settling your debt. However, the restaurant is not obligated to provide change if you do not present the exact amount due.
Those are also helpful for people who can't get bank accounts.
I'm used to the US pattern where businesses prefer cash, to the point of refusing to accept any cards at all, because processing fees cut into their margins.
OTOH they had a break-in and someone walked off with their safe that had like a week's worth of cash revenue in it. Almost put them under. You'd think they'd consider taking cards after that to reduce their risk, but nope.
Where folks get confused is that it is a legal requirement for you to accept cash if I'm settling a debt with you. If you were to run up a $50 bill at the gas pump, then go in to pay with your $50 bill they'd be forced to accept it or let you walk. Trying to convince a cop of that may not be the easiest thing in the world though...
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Currency/Pages...