🚀 go-pugleaf

  DM> From: entrpoop@access1.digex.net (Dexter Medley)

  > Glen Foster <foster@seismo.CSS.GOV> wrote: Tipping is an interesting
  > phenomenon. It seems that nobody likes it but I have yet to hear of an
  > acceptable alternative.
  > 
  DM> In most European countries, restaurant bills include 15% gratuity by
  DM> law, and tipping is not necessary. Local customs usually call for
  DM> leaving  any small change, and a small amount for extraordinary
  DM> service. It sure does make life a lot simpler when traveling, and I've
  DM> never heard anyone European or visitor) complain about the method.

It does make things simpler, and in Europe there's a tendency for the staff to
be more professional -- it's an occupation, not merely a job, over there.  A
great European waiter is an amazing professional and an expert at theatrics;
I've never met a /great/ American waiter who didn't train in Europe.

I'm not aware of a 15% service charge being a /law/ anywhere -- in each country
I've been to (all the Western European countries excluding one or two
principalities, some of the Eastern Europe countries), it has seemed to vary
from one dining-place to another.