Sweden was ahead of other countries in its eagerness to phase out cash just under a decade ago.
At that time, two-thirds of Sweden's retailers, including grocery stores, said they would stop accepting cash by 2030, according to a report from the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH.
Payment method when technology fails
In a shaky geopolitical situation and amid intensified talk of war preparedness, grocery store managers are now being forced to handle cash under a new law.
That does not worry Carlos Cancino, press manager at Coop Sweden, however.
"In certain scenarios when technology fails, cash may be the only form of payment that works. I don't know of any store in our network that has a need to be cashless at the moment," he tells TT.
Risk of robbery too high
However, at one of Coop's smaller stores in the country, the manager has decided that cash handling will not be an option. The risk of robbery is too high, says the person, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Understandable, says Ulrika Dahlin, emergency response manager at the Swedish Grocery Trade Association. She is critical of the new law, which does not include fines for those who violate it.
Nor does it specify exactly what qualifies for an exemption on safety grounds, she points out.
The law also does not cover health centres, which Ulrika Dahlin thinks is unfortunate, not only for patients.
The cost burden of maintaining the country's cash handling infrastructure now risks falling on a few players, she says.
Starting July 1, 2026, grocery stores and pharmacies in Sweden will be required by a new law to accept cash at physical points of sale with a staffed cash register.
However, they must not accept more than 25 coins.
The legislative amendment is being made to combat digital exclusion and to secure the country's payment readiness in the event of crises or cyberattacks.
Exceptions are given for stores that only have self-checkout or if cash handling poses clear safety risks for staff. Exceptions are also given if the costs of cash handling risk jeopardising the continued operation of the business.
The amendment does not apply to public services or authorities.
No system of supervision or sanctions for those who do not comply with the law has been proposed.
Sources: Government Offices, Swedish Trade and Swedish Grocery Trade.
