Vienna presents the first cash fan shop: Rescue for tipping culture!

Vienna presents the first cash fan shop: Rescue for tipping culture!

On June 26, 2025, a new concept was presented in the busy Alsergrund district in Vienna: the first cash fan shop in the world, operated by Money Service Austria (GSA). This innovative step should not only promote the culture of the tip of the tip, but also strengthen the visibility and importance of cash in today's society. The presentation attracted numerous interested parties who were interested in the future of cash use and their challenges. my district reports that the focus of the event was on drinking control regulations and the topics that were discussed too the taxation of drinking money included.

The GSA pursues a clear goal with the fanshop: strengthening the catering culture in gastronomy. According to a GSA study, 15 % of guests do not tip when paying card payments, while less than 2 % do without this. Another point is that cash is often rounded up, which is rarely the case with card payments. In this context, guest with the cash payment increases significantly, which is of particular importance for operators.

tip and its challenges

The discussion about the taxation of drinking money turned out to be one of the central topics. Berndt Querfeld from Café Landtmann expressed concerns that bureaucratic measures could devalue tips. The managing director of the Volksgarten Club, Ali Pasha Ilkhanipour, confirmed the worrying development: the decline in cash payment application has now reached over 20 %. This clearly shows how important it is to actively promote cash payment.

Matthias Schroth from the Austrian National Bank pointed out that cash should still have an indispensable place in society. The GSA's initiatives, such as the possibility of catering businesses, free of charge and free of charge to signal the acceptance of cash, are a step in the right direction. The message is clear: cash has a modern image and should also keep its place in gastronomy.

Cash usage at a glance

The situation around the use of cash is interesting. A study by the Deutsche Bundesbank shows that around half of the payment processes in Germany are still being made in cash and the use of indifferent payment methods is continuously increasing. Although the proportion of mobile payment methods has increased to 6 % in recent years, cash remains an important means of payment from the perspective of many citizens, precisely because of the advantages such as data protection and a direct overview of expenses. Nevertheless, 15 % of the respondents have difficulty access to cash, which is questionable, especially in urban areas where there are enough machines.

The GSA and the gastronomy are faced with the challenge of preserving cash payment as part of the classic payment methods. The cash fan shop is part of a larger campaign called "Cash-friendly operation", which supports restaurateurs. The goal is to strengthen awareness of the importance of cash without excluding other means of payment. And this is not only important for gastronomy, but for all society in Austria and beyond.