In the UK diners are not obligated to tip service staff after dining at a restaurant. So knowing when, or how much, to tip can be confusing.
With this in mind, new research from Dojo reveals that only 3% of Brits would accept American tipping culture in the UK.
In a recent study, card payment and solutions provider, Dojo, asked 2,000 Brits for their opinions on tipping restaurant staff and what they deem a “tippable” service.
The survey uncovered that Brits are turning their backs on the idea of a US tipping style despite Gen Z tipping 20% more than older generations.
When asked what their preferred tipping style would be, only 3% agreed that they would follow the US style of tipping 20-25%.
So whilst those aged 18-24 are tipping £18.24 on average per £100 bill, the majority of Brits wouldn’t agree to the American style of tipping.
When asked if respondents would prefer not to tip at all, 24% of people agreed with this statement, both of which could be a reaction to the cost of living crisis and Brits having to restrict spending.
42% of Brits want to abolish the typical service charge
The most popular response with 42% was to abolish the typical 10-12.5% service charge and choose a tip based on the experience people have received.
To understand how much Brits are tipping, the study revealed how tipping culture varies by each generation in the UK, with those aged 18-24 tipping £18.24 on average per £100 bill compared to those 65 and over who on average tip £5.11 per £100 bill which is under the average 10% tip.
Those aged 18-24 are also the biggest supporters of the US tipping style, with 8% of Gen Z respondents saying that they would prefer this style. Whilst 42% of Brits aged 55 to 64 would prefer to abolish the typical service charge and tip based on the service.
However, the data did show that 67% of 18-24-year-olds have been spending more at bars and restaurants over the last 12 months compared to 47% of 45 to 54-year-olds who have been spending less.
A Customer Insight spokesperson from Dojo said, “We also found that Gen-Z were the biggest proponents of the US tipping culture, with 8% of respondents citing that they would prefer to assume this style.
“It’s clear that aspects of the American tipping standard are making its way into British hospitality, but only through personal preference compared to regulation.
“Whilst this may suggest that our current tipping culture is changing, only 3% of those surveyed said that we should adopt the same process of a 20-25% tip for all services. Whilst 42% stated that they would prefer to not pay the service charge and decide the tip amount themselves, based on the level of service.’’
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