For almost 40 years I have understood that when out you were required to have ID and at least CHF2 in your pocket.

Probably an urban legend, but …

Probably differs by Canton, like everything else here.

To the best of my knowledge (read: 2 minute Google search), there is no general requirement to carry ID in Switzerland, only prescribed by a specific law (eg driving a car, carrying a weapon, etc).

Just be aware that if you don't carry ID, you may be majorly inconvienced in the circumstance where authorities need to verify who you are.

No, its federal. ID not obligatory but it helps in so many situations that it is worth carrying a driving license or identity card with you.

The 2 Fr. is for the clothes locker.

It was a requirement when we lived in Japan to carry ID at all times. The dog walking bag I bought there had a little slot for an ID card.

When we moved back here I thought it made sense to carry ID when walking the dogs.

I can imagine that 200 years from now, in a super futuristic Switzerland...you'll still need a "zwee-fränkler" for lockers.

Unless Switzerland left the Schengen Area over night, there is a requirement to be able to identify yourself using one of the accepted methods listed on the website and justify your presence with in the Area.

I had to get off a train at Liestal with a Swiss colleague who had no ID and we hat to wait for his wife to bring his ID to the station.

please share a link to the requirement to carry the id.

There is no hard requirement by any law which says you must carry any form of ID while in Switzerland. Foreigners, must carry an ID when they cross the border (Art. 5 FNIA), Swiss don't, as it's a constitutional right to enter the country at any time Art. 24 Constitution). That's all.

However, if there is any suspicion about your identity or your right to stay in Switzerland, the police or customs authority can use the means necessary to determine your ID. This could be, amongst others, that they bring you to the place where you have some form of ID, someone has to bring your ID, or the bring you to a police station (this is not considered as an arrest) according the cantons police law or federal customs law. PS: A Swiss driving license is not an official ID, it's a license to drive.

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Ah so actually not aggressive and unpleasant?

As a aSwissInTheUS mentioned, no obligation to carry and ID. But I've seen the border police taking people with them from the inter-city trains (like IC5) for not showing an ID.