Legally speaking, cash is, and will remain, valid tender for settling debts, and creditors in general may not refuse it for an outstanding debt.

However a seller is generally allowed to refrain from selling (bar certain specific protections), and thus the seller is allowed to not create the debt in the first place. This is why, while cash remains legal tender, one could legally end up in situation where it's virtually impossible to buy certain goods or services for cash.

Nb., I support the general idea of this legislation, specifically for reasons of privacy and practicality.

Does that mean that restaurants where you pay after you eat must accept cash?

Yes.

Legal tender is a tricky thing. I've spent some time a while ago trying to understand how it works, here's my conclusion:

"Legal tender" must be accepted for settling the debt. That's it.

It means a bartender may refuse to pour you beer if you intend to pay in the form he doesn't like. But once he poured you the beer you have entered the debt for settling of which a bartender must accept your cash.

Disclaimer: don't try it in the only bar in your village.

Cash is already disallowed for pretty much every payment you can’t make in person. And good luck sending Amazon a check either.

Amazon allows you to use a checking account for payment.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=...

The article is talking about making purchases you make in person, not online purchases.

Yes. I can read. My point is that, for better, or worse you already can’t use cash for a great many payments.

> shouldn't be able to ban its use

This topic is not about banning cash... it's about banning refusal to accept cash.

Stated in another way: Do you have the right to pay in cash? Are business obligated to accept cash?

you are only required to accept legal tender for the purpose of settling a debt - if you’re buying something, you’re actually making an offer for trade. indeed, many places in the UK are cashless only establishments.