this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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Im having beers at bar ordered wings and tipped $2 everything the bartender brings me.

Beer = $6

tip for beer $2

wings = $20ish

Tip for wings from bartender = $2

Total tips = $4

==============================

Same order from waitress/er = $26

Tip = $5.20

Now I know this is micro example but extrapolate this over several drinks with food and the difference swings the other way. The question remains tho, am I tipping correctly?

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[–] serpineslair@lemmy.world 48 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You guys sound crazy

  • non-american.

Couldn't imagine tipping for EVERY drink, idk how I would keep track. I can barely afford drinks as it is. I once got tipped and I politely declined. It's the responsibility of the workplace to pay fairly, not other people who are just trying to get by.

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

True but tipping was created generations ago for the wealthy to not have to pay living wages and it's going to be as hard as taking guns away to get it to change. Remember, all this talk about "fair wages" and "equality" was planted and cultivated for a LONG time with a specific reason to hold down the poor and create different classes. It's a shitty system getting worse by the day.

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[–] phonics@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

in australia they serve bottles of water for free. so im not even out there buying drinks. some places have carbonated water for free too.

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[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 33 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

You're tipping too much.

In Michigan we passed a law requiring minimum wage for all tipped workers by 2030(?), and they FLIPPED THEIR SHIT. Said they would lose too much money in tips if they made minimum wage. The republicans rolled it back below minimum (still a small increase), and I'm not sure where it stands right now.

If tipped workers are going to fight against wage increases so much, then I'm okay reducing their tips.

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (10 children)

Unpopular opinion, but maybe servers (and most everyone) deserve more than minimum wage. And I'm not saying the consumer should be paying it, they should be paid their money's worth by their employer.

Michigan non-tip min wage is what like $10? Who the hell can survive on that?

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 4 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

Correct they deserve more and they should negotiate it with their employer, not people who out eating food and smd drinking

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I used to work for a payroll company who had a bunch of restaurant clients. Some of those servers made bank. I'd fight it as well.

LOL, you're Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs. :)

[–] douglasg14b@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I mean they are required to be paid minimum at the end of the day anyways

If they don't make tips at all, they get paid minimum wage. If they do they can be pets less as long as tips make up the difference.

[–] vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 weeks ago

there is already a federal law about it. Minimum is already minimum for everyone. Tipped positions simply let the employer save some of that money. If you didn't tip, the employer must pay the full wage.

[–] MDCCCLV@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

You also have a thing where the minimum wage is far below the actual market rate, the typical wage in the area, and actually making minimum wage is way less than any other job. Nobody wants 7.25 an hour unless you're forced to.

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Every aspect of America is insufferable

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

And getting worse, or enshittified

[–] FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au 20 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I’m so glad I don’t live in a country where you’re expected to pay companies employees directly so they don’t have to. Even if someone goes above and beyond and is the greatest at their job time ever seen, I still don’t have to top up their pay cheque from my own pocket.

Every business using certain POS’s have a tip screen come up now, but I’ve never seen or heard of anyone selecting anything other than 0% thankfully.

[–] plz1@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

The latest atrocity I've seen in tipping is at the attended checkout at a grocery store. These companies are leeches.

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Its insane, I hated visiting there because tipping is so weird and ingrained like something theyncant explain. People will tell you its simple just do x, other say yeah well I do y, and the next I will only do y if abc otherwise I omly give x.

I just overpaid for everything there and considered it expensive and weird

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

For anyone who mightn't know, tipping culture is rooted in slavery and exploitation. It existed in Europe to an extent but really spread its wings - like many awful European things - in the USA.

I support workers rights, but I don't tip. The way I see it, if the place requires tips for their staff to get by, then the staff are being financially abused and I would be propping up a system of exploitation. Prioritise places that pay their staff above the minimum wage.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The way I see it, if the place requires tips for their staff to get by, then the staff are being financially abused and I would be propping up a system of exploitation. Prioritise places that pay their staff above the minimum wage.

Second sentence is fine, feel free to boycott places that pay below minimum wage. But if you do go to an establishment that pays based on the assumption of tips, and you don't tip, you're just joining in the exploitation.

[–] litchralee@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

if you do go to an establishment that pays based on the assumption of tips

In the USA, there are only 7 US States (and Guam) which mandate that the minimum wage be paid prior to consideration of tips. All other states permit some fraction of tips to be considered as part of minimum wage, with some states limiting the employer contribution to as low as $2.13/hr.

This is indeed an absurd situation outside of those seven states, but it also means that it's nigh impossible to avoid establishments that rely on tips to supplement wages, in the other 43 states.

With this background, I can understand why the earlier commenter views tipping as exploitative, for both the consumer and the staff. The result of either choice -- boycotting places that pay less than minimum wage, or not tipping at those places -- doesn't change the fact that the staff are being underpaid, which is the root exploitative practice.

you're just joining in the exploitation

I think reasonable people can disagree on this point, on whether not tipping constitutes a secondary exploitation. Firstly, this framing places blame on individuals when the whole situation is a systemic machine of abuse. It is no different than the nebulous idea of personal responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions, when large polluters have the actual levers to make real change. Secondly -- and this is an economic policy argument which I personally don't subscribe to -- it can be argued that prolonged employment while underpaid is better than no employment at all, based on the premise that the employer would close down if a boycott was successful.

But like I said, the initial exploitation is root. Everything else is collateral. Systemic abuse is fixed by systemic overhaul.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

The result of either choice -- boycotting places that pay less than minimum wage, or not tipping at those places -- doesn't change the fact that the staff are being underpaid, which is the root exploitative practice.

Yes, but boycotting those places is justifiable. Going anyway and just not tipping is actively participating in the exploitation.

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

I think reasonable people can disagree on this point, on whether not tipping constitutes a secondary exploitation.

No, they cannot. Disagreement here is not reasoned, it is just another example of clever people using their cleverness to justify unreasonable prior beliefs.

You can boycott a business, and write them to express that your boycott is based on their tipping policy. That would be a reasonable strategy to support the workers.

By still giving the business owners money, knowing they pay their staff sub-minimum wages based on the convention of tipping, and then not tipping, you have not communicated any disapproval to management. You have in fact directly supported the business owner exploiting their workers, and joined that exploitation for personal benefit. That's the opposite of supporting the worker.

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[–] Diddlydee@feddit.uk 12 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

I tip nothing for drinks, maybe 5 or 10 quid for a meal (for 3 or 4). Pay your staff so they don't need to rely on tips.

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[–] TheButtonJustSpins@infosec.pub 12 points 2 weeks ago

I think 1-2$ per drink is the recommendation because it's easier to remember than doing the math, and you're more likely to drop the cash and go rather than interacting with a busy bartender more. That said, if they're doing full service for you (food, checking in on you), you should probably tip normally, because they're acting as a server in that case.

[–] MyBrainHurts@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 weeks ago

Really depends.

Typically, $1 is for a standup bar etc with high volume.

If I'm sitting at the bar top, getting fed, I'll tip like I would were I sitting at a table. If I'm just sucking down beers, probably a buck or two a drink and if I've been a while, a 5 on top at the end.

But, I've known a lot of people in the industry etc... Also I've found that being a good person who tips helps out in the long run, it's nice getting the occasional free drink, having the server on your side when flirting with folks at the bar etc. Best one was the bartender gave me really high end ski gloves that had been left behind a couple nights prior, the cash equivalent would've been huge.

As they say, it's nice to be nice.

[–] Auth@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

Dont tip. Covid killed tipping, after covid you dont need to tip

[–] Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)
[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Tipping caught Covid and now it is dead?

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[–] confusedwiseman@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think it’s insane too. I understand that tipping goes (theoretically) to the waitstaff, but I have a hard time tipping $1 per $4.50 bottle of beer handed to me. If it’s more complex of a drink than x and coke, sure it took their time.

Tipping table service used to be good amount only not drinks and tax. Now it seems to be on top the final total with 20% being expected.

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[–] t0fr@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago

I tip for 15%, everywhere I go where tips are expected. For drinks I tip 15%. It helps that I'm Canadian and almost all places I go they have machines, so it's just easy.

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I thought bar food is tipped the same as restaurant food.

Tipping a dollar a drink is standard because

  • It's easy

... that's really it. No thinking, no math, etc. which is important when you're drinking.

Also, you too per drink so the bartender knows you tip right from the start.

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

You mention the key for tipping, IMO. Bartenders are pretty damn good at identifying who gives a little. I feel it definitely helps me get my drinks even at a very crowded bar.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I tip the first drink, but not every single time I get a beer. Not paying a dollar for them to crack a Miller Lite. Maybe every other or third drink I'll throw a dollar on there, maybe more at the end of the night.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

There was an article just the other day pointing out that a lot of places are actually charging you a higher percentage than what they say they are. Chances are you're being screwed over.

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[–] Otherbarry@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

With tips I generally do 20% across the board so a bartender would get 20% just like a waitress. And it's always better to have a happy bartender :)

That said I'm also in the northeast U.S. where everything is expensive so it sort of makes sense that the tips aren't going to be cheap. Maybe I'd rethink the tipping if I was somewhere else less expensive.

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[–] Stillwater@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I do 20% for table service by wait staff and 1 dollar per drink at a bar, unless I run a tab over a long session, then I often default back to 20%. Also if the bartender is putting a lot of time and effort into making me fancy cocktails and not just pouring me a draft.

[–] spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

No, you and I tip similarly.

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Start a tab, tip at the end

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[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

Only you can answer that.

I give $1/drink at bars and cafes(not starfucks).

I give 15% to severs unless it was exceptional.

I give 10% to specific takeout locations because I want to support their staff and I don't usually dine-in.

[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 2 points 2 weeks ago

This discussion around what to tip hides an employment system that values employees to the point of underpayment and poor working conditions.

Perhaps you should instead frequent establishments where tipping is not expected because the employees are paid a proper wage.

That way, you don't have to argue about tipping your bartender too much, or not enough, instead you can focus on drinking a superbly crafted concoction of your choice.

I'll also note that tipping is not universal.

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