SA cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues are going cashless

CASH is no longer king at Adelaide cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues, which are following a global trend to kill off cash transactions in Australia within five years. But it could hurt some people.

CASH is no longer king at local cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues, which are following a global trend predicted to kill off cash transactions in Australia within five years.

But while card, mobile and other new payment technologies are making it easier, quicker and more convenient for many customers, low-income workers, charities and small business owners are feeling the pinch.

The owner of city cafe Coffee Branch, Aaron Martin, said about 20 per cent of his sales were paid for with cash, down from 80 per cent at the start of this year. He said mobile payments represented about 20 per cent of the cafe’s sales.

“The majority of our customers are city workers and uni students and card and mobile payments are becoming more and more the norm,” he said.

“And I think it will keep changing. Ultimately it will come down to the consumer and the businesses. If I had a choice, I’d go completely cashless — it just makes it easier.

Coffee Branch owner Aaron Martin, with customer Jessica Keirle. Coffee Branch has introduced ‘smartcups’ that customers can use in the same way Metrocards work. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We don’t have the worry about the owner or staff putting their hands in the till — it’s convenient, completely transparent and open.”

Two weeks ago Coffee Branch introduced a range of reusable smart cups, which operate similar to a Metrocard, allowing customers to top up with funds and tap against a reader for payment.

Last year a Brisbane cafe ­became one of the first completely cashless cafes in Australia. A Melbourne cafe went cashless this year after a series of targeted burglaries.

This year Adelaide Oval converted a large number of its outlets to accept only card payments and is considering going completely cash-free.

Card transactions at the Oval have increased from 13 per cent in 2014 to 88 per cent at the end of this year’s football season.

The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority’s Darren Chandler said the Oval was changing in line with consumer behaviour and expectations.

“More of us than ever before are using card for transactions, particularly due to the advent of tap-and-go technology,” he said.

Last year a Reserve Bank survey revealed little more than a third of payments are now made with cash. Research from Westpac predicts Australia will be cash free by 2022.

But SACOSS senior policy officer Greg Ogle said there were social and economic costs to consider.

“There are many people, particularly those who are older, on lower incomes or living with disability who don’t have the level of confidence with digital technology and may be excluded in a cashless society,” he said.

“One of the major changes will be for small charities and community groups who rely on sausage sizzle and coin-based fundraising.

“No coins, no fundraising — and the need to have a cashless money receipt device makes the sausage sizzle a bit more complicated.”