The Mirage of Digital Accessibility – What It Means to Choose.

Avv. Alessandro del Ninno contributed to the discussion on digital accessibility in the restaurant sector in the article published by Cibo under the title “Cosa significa scegliere. L’importanza del menù”.

The article examines the accessibility of digital menus for blind and visually impaired users, highlighting how QR codes, web pages, booking systems, electronic payment tools and digital interfaces have become an integral part of the restaurant customer experience. For this very reason, their design can no longer disregard the accessibility requirements laid down by European and national legislation.

In his contribution, Avv. del Ninno refers to the framework introduced by the European Accessibility Act, implemented in Italy by Legislative Decree No. 82/2022, noting that e-commerce services, as well as self-service and payment terminals, fall within the scope of the applicable rules. Accordingly, where a restaurant enables customers to place orders, make payments, purchase vouchers or otherwise enter into a contractual relationship online, the relevant digital channel must also be designed in an accessible manner.

Avv. del Ninno further points out that accessibility is not a matter affecting large platforms alone, but may also become relevant for restaurant operators that integrate digital tools into their customer journey. In order to be genuinely usable by blind or visually impaired users, a digital menu must be readable by screen readers, ensure adequate colour contrast, provide intelligible error messages and allow navigation that does not depend exclusively on graphic elements.

This reflection is particularly significant in a sector where digitalisation has accelerated since the pandemic, yet many tools still remain insufficiently accessible. The issue is therefore not merely technical or regulatory: it concerns the quality of service, customer inclusion and the ability of businesses to anticipate a model of compliance increasingly focused on the full usability of digital services.

As the article makes clear, investing in accessibility means not only reducing the risk of regulatory non-compliance, but also expanding the potential customer base, improving the user experience and strengthening brand reputation. In the restaurant sector, the ability to read a menu independently, book a table or complete a digital payment is, in fact, an essential component of a customer’s effective participation in the dining experience.

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