The transatlantic invasion is here. And it’s not tariffs or tech. It’s the tip. The dreaded, algorithmic, screen-driven tip. British travellers are now facing the American plague of suggested gratuities at every turn. Coffee shops. Taxis. Even self-service kiosks. The message from consumer groups is clear: brace yourself.
The shift is subtle but seismic. A decade ago, tipping in the UK was a discretionary reward for exceptional service. Now it’s a compulsory expectation. The culprit? Digital payment terminals. Those iPads at the till that spin around with three preset tip options: 10%, 15%, 20%. The social pressure is immense. You become the villain for hitting ‘No tip’.
Data from payment firms shows the trend accelerating. Contactless transactions now routinely include a tip prompt. In London, some cafes have defaulted to 12.5% service charge. The Americanisation of our service economy is nearly complete.
Downing Street is watching nervously. A source in the Department for Business and Trade told me they are “monitoring the situation closely” but refuse to legislate. The hospitality lobby is strong. They argue tips supplement low wages. But critics say it shifts the burden from employers to customers. Sound familiar? It’s the US model: subsidised wages, mandatory tips.
The real flashpoint is the ‘service charge’. Many restaurants now add it automatically. Then they keep a cut for ‘administration’. The government promised to ban this practice in 2023. It hasn’t. Backbench MPs are restless. Labour’s Sharon Hodgson has a private member’s bill on the issue. It’s stalled.
For the British traveller, the advice is blunt: carry cash. Tipping with cash gives you control. It also avoids the 2-3% card processing fee that merchants often add to the tip. And remember: you are not obliged to tip for poor service. The screen is not your boss.
This is a cultural inflection point. Either we accept the American way, or we push back. The polls suggest public sentiment is against the spread. But the screens are everywhere. And they are winning.
One final piece of insider cricket: watch the Treasury. They see tips as a tax revenue source. If mandatory tipping becomes standard, they will want a slice. That could be the moment the backlash really begins.
