Tip jars have been displayed on the bar, restaurant, and fast-food counters to encourage customers to tip their servers. They're used to accumulate tips within the shift, and the amount can be divided fairly among the staff. The tips are usually given for the employees and the restaurant's service.
However, not many people are aware of the rules and culture around tipping which could lead to an unhappy server or a look of disapproval from other customers. It's always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to everyday things like these.
Quick Tipping Guide: How Much to Tip
1. Standard Tip
The standard tip in most restaurants is 15%-20% of the bill. This is the fair and just way to tip your bartenders and servers and the safest way to tip in general.
2. One vs. Two Dollar Tip
Even if you're not paying for drinks or you only bought a beer, tipping at least one dollar for the bottle of beer will help your servers. Most servers need to earn tips to make a liveable wage, so be sure to tip even for a small drink.
On the other hand, a cocktail is a different story. Since it takes time and effort to prepare, you need to at least tip two dollars even if you're not paying for the drink. A good example is at a cocktail party, it's important to remember that they're not only making your drinks, but they're doing their best for everyone to have a good experience.
3. 18/20/22 Tip
If you want to tip according to their service, you can always go with the 18/20/22 percent tip. 18% is for okay service but needs improvement; 20% being the standard level of service and 22% being excellent service. But you can always tip more if you want to.
4. Total not subtotal
Remember to calculate your tips with the total amount instead of the subtotal. The subtotal is the price for each product, and the total is the overall price of all the products. Calculating the subtotal means you'll tip less, which will make you a lousy tipper.
5. Always in Cash
Even if you're using a card to pay for your meal or drinks, always tip in cash. It's important to note that servers can't get the tip from the card that extra payment will most likely go to the restaurant.
Countries That Do Not Require Tipping
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Countries that consider it offensive.
Some Asian countries like Japan, China, and South Korea consider tipping to be offensive. The consensus is that you're already paying for good service, and paying extra may seem unfair and impolite to other servers. Some also consider this a bribe to give better or special treatment, which is also considered rude.
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Countries that don't find tipping common.
Other Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam do not have the common practice of tipping but greatly appreciate it when they receive it.
Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland are the same since it's required by law to include the service charge in the overall bill. If you do want to tip your servers in these countries, 10% of the total should be enough.