An American tourist has sparked a huge debate online over how much you need to tip while on holiday in Europe, criticizing his fellow countrymen and women.
Speaking on TikTok, tourist Christian – a content creator under the banner of @cbwritescopy – described his shock at how Europeans tip when compared to Americans.
He lavished praise on the service quality he received while taking a trip in Italy, but said it was laughable that for the same experience he received in the US so much less was given.
The creator also claimed the manner in which people tip back in the US had “got out of control”.
Tipping has always proved a controversial point. New York magazine The Cut says “at coffee shops, coffee carts, cafés, and bodegas, tip at least 20 percent”.
It adds that “even though their pay isn’t as tip dependent as waiters’, the average salary for a barista in New York is just above minimum wage”.
But Christian was left raging when comparing his experience in Italy and back across the pond.
He fumed: “Just finished dinner in Italy, had a great three-course meal, paid the bill, the waiter brings out the check and he goes ‘sign here please’.
“I got to sign it and there’s only a line to sign your name. There’s no tip line, there’s no total line, nothing. You just sign your name that’s it.”
The tetchy traveler continued: “Meanwhile in America, you pay for a water bottle and they flip the screen around and ask you to tip 20 to 30 percent – for grabbing a water bottle.
“And don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to tip for great dinner service, like this guy in Italy deserved a fat tip. But to tip for a Starbucks employee to hand me a water bottle, like where do we draw the line? Seriously?”
But viewers were left divided over Christian’s remarks, with one bluntly saying: “If I don’t sit, then I don’t tip.”
Another said: “I actually agree and I work in the food industry.”
Others waded into the debate, including one Briton who said they would not tip. They added: “Some places already add a 20 percent service charge. Not my place to pay the staff wages.”
While many were happy to tip, one working in the service remarked: “I serve and make $2.25 in America, I rely on my tips.”
Another concluded: “I worked in the service industry in UK and got paid just over £10 an hour, I have a friend in the US. Same job and she gets paid $2 an hour so I get.”
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This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
