Tip the barman?

[ellokittee]

I am an American who worked for years as a bartender in the States, where it is rude not to tip the bartender. I am living in Ireland now, where the barkeeps do NOT receive tips, but you are to tip if a server brings a drink to your table. ( I feel so guilty not tipping my fellow tradespeople, but I am assured by the Irish that the only people that tip the Irish barman are Americans who don't know any better). What is the custom is Englad and other countries? And why does the custom vary so much?

[andy hughes]

This has been raised before by a fellow American - equally confused by the variety of tipping ettiquette.

Simply, the British are an inhibited bunch. Tey feeel insecure eating and drinking out, and the notion that someone 'waits' on them is something they find deeply uncomfortable. Add to that the notion of 'tipping', and to a Brit, that feels like they are being snooty, and treating the server as an underling - and patrronising them with a few coins from the 'rich' man's pocket.

Of course, it's not like that, but the british see serving as a rather humble occupation, suited to people who 'know their place' - it's a hangover from our more rigid class-based days, which haven't entirely evaporated, even today.

Americans are far more egalitarian - serving is a perfectly acceptbale way of earning a living, and tipping is built into American life, and inded, wage structures are bult into the basis that it takes place.

Don't worry if you don't tip - but obviously, money is gratefully received where ever you are in the world! As an American, you will be cheerfully received as someone who has the right idea about rewarding good service, and eventually, say in a couple of hundred years or so, we will catch you up!

[silly moo]

When I worked as a barmaid many years ago and also when my daughters did the same recently , we all appreciated being asked if we wanted a drink.
Different bars have diff rules about the money for the drink goingf in the till and a record kept of how many drinks you have paid for, or money in a glass as a tip.
I still often buy the barman in my local a 'drink' which he sometimes has then and sometimes has another day.

[Gef]

For once Andy I have to disagree with your thoughts but can only say that I behave irrationally. I tip waitresses but not barmaids and I tip my hairdresser (low paid?). However, I also tip taxi drivers even though they probably earn a lot more than me. PS the wine is good tonight.

[clairus99]

As far as England....

It just isn't the custom to tip at the bar - although some places (ironically where you will pay more for a drink) will leave a plate there - some places will have a charity box.

I haven't heard this for a long time but occasionally you might offer the barman/maid a drink - they will normally put this in a tip jar or something.

I am sure they would appreciate a tip, however, it's not that the public are being rude, it's just not a custom.

[elleroo]

i work sometimes in a bar, and almost never get tipped, only at christmas etc do you recieve drinks or a pound here and there. i think it would be nice to get tipped now and again. after all you have to stand there and serve the drunk people, clear up after them when they spill things, and hang around after closing time for the hangers-on to finish the last few drops in their drinks! incidentally, those that wont leave until you make them leave are the ones who NEVER offer a tip.

[wobblywicca]

In the wonderful city of Manchester, (my home town) the usual custom is to order your round of drinks and say "and your own!" It is then up to the bar staff, if they have a drink or take a tip!

[Cetti]

I've never encountered any embarrassment with tipping ellokittee, but then I was once a poorly paid Hair Stylist who depended on tips to survive!

There is no hard and fast rule - if you're happy with a service whether it be a restaurant or hairdresser tip accordingly - roughly �4 or �5 is about average for a middle to decent restaurant. It's not expected so don't worry about it! If the service has not been of a reasonable standard then don't feel obliged to leave anything. Never hand over money to bar staff, but when you order your first drinks  say ' and one for yourself'.

The only 'must do' for some reason are the London taxi drivers - where you don't tip at your peril :-)

[gingerflaps]

im gonna appoligise b4 i start to n e 1 that works as a waiter/waitress/hairdresser ect, but i think its wrong to tip these people, its their choice to do that job, i work in a pizza factory who deal directly with tesco and when tesco come to visit they dont tip me 4 doing a good job. i know it sounds really arrogant and i embarress my freinds n family when ever we go out 4 a meal on the reluctance to leave a tip. i had had countless arguments with my boyfreind about tippin, he is from canada where it normal to leave a tip, wher as i am from a workin class family with just my mum and younger bro and times where hard. so forgive me 4 sayin i think its wrong

[denisegordon]

We get so ripped off with the prices for a drink in the UK why make it more expensive?

[blanx]

I find the whole tipping thing in USA so over the top.  Just price the goods and be done with it.  If you want to tip extra for good service it is up to you, but should not be expected.  Once in USA a group of friends complained about poor food and very bad service, but were chased out of the restaurant when they did not leave a tip.  Ridiculous....  I really hope we don't end up being like that here.

[ellokittee]

I agree blanx, the tipping system in America is over the top, but you also have to keep in mind that its the system's fault, not the  waitstaff or barstaff. Most waiters or bartenders make about $3 an hour, far below minimum wage, so tips are the mainstay of their income. I have never heard of someone being "chased out" of an establishment for not tipping, I'm sorry that happened to you, quite ridiculous on their part. But just as I am having to learn the customs by living in Europe now, so must others going to America. Remember its not the size of the tip, its the recongnition of good service. $1 goes a long way towards making someone in the service industry feel appreciated, as well as pay their bills!

[Pinotage]

There's a saying 'When in Rome'. No doubt you'd recommend that an Irish person coming to the USA should tip even though they don't at home. For the same reason, you should not tip in Ireland where locals don't.

Why tipping rules differ is complex and cultural. At the simplest level US servers get their pay from tips, in Europe that isn't so, the national minimum wage laws apply to all jobs.

When we go to the US we are astounded how cheap food seems to be, but locals know the menu doesn't include tax and that you're expected to add a minimum 15% tip. In Ireland and Britain prices include tax (17.5% in UK  and the establishment have to pay national insurance for the server health care etc etc.  

So the two situations are quite different. Please follow local custom; in London we've seen standard restaurant tip creep up from 10% to 12.5% and 15% primarily as a result of them getting used to Americans over tipping.

[blanx]

Ellokittee I agree completely.  You must certainly recognise a country's customs, but I also think that the price advertised should be the price paid unless you choose to leave extra.  The fact that the staff are not being paid enough by their boss for that job is beside the point of me receiving my item/service.  I don't earn a fantastic wage but don't expect to receive a tip for doing what I am paid to do even when I do it really well, but if someone chooses to give me a gift, that's really nice. 

 It's not just USA though, it happens here with hidden charges, service charge, cover charge etc. but that doesn't make it right.  I'm not tight though, in fact I have a tendency to overtip certain services because I find it all so embarrassing.  But it's something I find I often resent, particularly in the USA because it is expected regardless of whether the food/service has merited it.