[GekkePrutser]

So if you're a tourist you can't buy anything? Weird.

Spain has a similar thing for this, you have to give your NIE/DNIe number everywhere. Like when ordering something online. But not in brick and mortar shops.

Still I find it a very poor practice in terms of privacy.

[pradn]

Buying stuff through QR codes is very common in India now. You can pay for everything from groceries to street food using QR codes. It runs off the government-sponsored UPI standard. However, AFAIK you need an Indian bank account to be able to participate. It's quite a pain coming from abroad, and I just used cash instead. That does mean I have am prone to paying foreign withdrawal fees, but alas. It does work pretty well for the people of India though.