Eating out is a way of life for most Aussies – the nation spends $130 billion on food annually, with a quarter spent on dining out – and when they do, they expect good, quick service. In fact, waiting for a table annoys them more so than waiting for public transport or delayed shopping deliveries.

“Your money isn’t welcome here.” It’s a very rare occasion that diners at a restaurant will ever hear these words, but they may soon be common at US-based fast casual chain Sweetgreen, which is getting rid of cash payments in most of its 64 stores. Are Americans ready to ditch physical currency?

Would you wait a year for a dinner reservation? Patient foodies from around the world are flocking to Girona to sample the culinary delights of El Celler de Can Roca, one of the best restaurants in the World. But with everything from taxis to takeaways on demand, are people still willing to wait?

Whether you’re at the station in Dagenham or on Main Street in DisneyWorld, queueing is woven into the very fabric of how many cultures create order in a crowd. David Andrews, author ofWhy does the other line always move faster?, explains why we queue and the psychological effect it has on us.