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In reply to the discussion: Visitors sue National Park Service over policy prohibiting cash payments [View all]Jedi Guy
(3,194 posts)There is no federal statute saying they're required to do so, and the "legal tender for all debts public and private" doesn't carry the force of law. Any business is free to decide their own policy with regard to cash payments.
For many businesses, it's more advantageous to refuse cash. There's no currency for thieves (or employees with sticky fingers) to steal, less likelihood of the till being over or short, no need to even have a cash box or lock box, no need to make an employee or manager deposit the money at the end of the day, etc.
The move to a cashless society was already underway, albeit very gradually. The pandemic accelerated that since currency has repeatedly been shown to be absolutely filthy and can be a vector for disease. The federal government would benefit since they'd no longer have to run the mints, as well.
Within twenty years, we'll be a cashless society and those who use cash will be an extremely tiny minority, if cash is still available at all. Can't happen fast enough, as far as I'm concerned. I hate carrying cash and avoid it if at all possible.