Has the US’s ‘Excessive’ Tipping Norm Gone Global?

The longstanding controversy surrounding American tipping habits has resurfaced, fueled by viral social media content featuring frustrated service workers who feel they have not received adequate gratuities. This surge in public discourse raises a pressing question: Is the mounting pressure to tip generously now transcending US borders?

Lillian Price, a Philadelphia-based animal care worker, describes the current state of tipping in the United States as “out of control.” “It’s excessive,” Price asserts. “You might simply be picking up a takeout order, yet you’re still expected to leave a tip.” While she adheres to a 15% standard at sit-down establishments, she questions the logic of extending this practice to other scenarios. “If a service is provided, I understand tipping, but I don’t see the need for it in other situations, or worse, the expectation of it. It applies to every minor interaction… at what point does it stop?”

Although a 15% tip might appear generous to many, it can actually provoke hostility from staff in major US metropolitan areas such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, where 20% has become the de facto standard. For Kate Santos, a server at Sanger Hall, a Queens bar in New York, tips constitute the bulk of her earnings. With a base wage of $11 (£8.18) per hour, Santos explains, “I essentially earn my salary through gratuities. If customers don’t tip, it’s a difficult day for me. In New York, there is an unspoken mandate to tip at least 20%; falling below that threshold is viewed very poorly.”

While tipping is deeply embedded in American culture, it was historically alien to Iceland, located 2,000 miles (3,220km) away. However, the landscape is shifting due to a dramatic surge in American tourism. Official data indicates that US visitors to Iceland jumped from 50,810 in 2010 to 660,114 last year. This influx has influenced local business practices. A spokesperson for Efling Union, Iceland’s second-largest labor union, noted that many restaurants now ask patrons if they wish to add a gratuity at the point of sale, a trend that is irritating locals.

“Tipping is not part of Icelandic custom because there has long been a broad social agreement that employers must pay their staff fair wages,” the spokesperson stated. “However, tourists from the United States, as well as those from other regions, often expect tipping to be the norm and do so to some degree. Additionally, some payment systems are now programmed to prompt for tips.” The spokesperson added that Icelanders generally find these requests unreasonable, particularly given the country’s high prices. “Locals tend to become annoyed when this happens, as they do not see it as fair to pay an extra charge on top of already steep costs, such as when buying a drink at a bar.”

A similar dynamic is unfolding in Mexico City, where locals attribute the rise in tipping expectations to American tourists. Meanwhile, in the UK, food and drink consultant Lisa Harris observes a trend toward higher service charges. “We are witnessing a slight increase from 12.5% to 15%,” Harris notes. “With the cost of living rising across the board, it is hardly surprising that we are seeing ‘tip inflation’ as well.”

Harris points out that this shift is most prevalent in upscale dining establishments and suggests it serves as a mechanism for businesses to compensate staff without raising base wages. “Since tips go directly to employees, restaurants are likely using gratuities to boost staff pay without covering the full cost themselves,” she explains. “The UK hospitality sector is struggling, with owners squeezed by VAT, rising minimum wages, national insurance contributions, and increased food and utility costs. On top of that, fewer people are dining out. It is no surprise that they are turning to tips to balance their finances.”

Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornell University and author of The Psychology of Tipping, attributes the global rise in tipping to the proliferation of digital payment terminals that prompt users to select a gratuity amount.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-27 23:14:43 UTC