Cash must stay: DBJR supports appeal to protect the participation of young people
The joint appeal "Cash must stay!" was published on 29 January 2026. It is aimed at the German government and calls for a law that safeguards cash as a means of payment and guarantees free, barrier-free access in reasonable proximity.
The background to this is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to pay in cash in Germany or to obtain cash at all. Self-service checkouts often only accept card payments, some shops refuse to accept cash and ATMs and bank branches are being further reduced. This development restricts freedom of choice and leads to exclusion in everyday life.
From the perspective of the German Federal Youth Council, the preservation of cash is particularly important for children and young people. Many young people do not yet have access to digital payment methods and are dependent on cash in their everyday lives. This also applies in the context of youth organisation work, where independent mobility, small everyday expenses or spontaneous activities must be possible without a digital payment infrastructure.
The appeal was initiated by a broad alliance led by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations and co-signed by numerous organisations, including the DBJR. It is also to be sent directly to the responsible federal ministries and the Bundesbank. The German Federal Youth Council is calling on the Federal Government to enshrine the protection of cash in law and thus ensure the independent participation of children and young people in everyday life.