Person Attacked By Bartender For Refusing To Tip On Top Of Auto Tip: “I Called The Police”

Many people would likely agree that tipping culture seems to be getting out of hand. With even self-checkout machines asking for tips, people are increasingly confused—and quite often annoyed—about where the custom of tipping is headed.

To make matters worse, despite being a voluntary thing to do, sometimes tipping is more than expected. Take this redditor’s story, for instance: for them, refusing to tip again after their son just tipped the bartender resulted in an altercation with the latter, which was not solved without interference from the police. Scroll down to find the full story below, where you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with the OP, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

Customers are being asked to leave a tip in surprisingly many places nowadays

Bartender in a denim shirt talking to a customer at a bar, with drinks on the counter.

Image credits: gpointstudio / Envato (not the actual photo)

This netizen refused to leave a tip after his son just had, which led to trouble with the bartender

Text describing an incident involving a bartender and an auto tip, with details of a trip and sobriety.

Text conversation about tipping twice after getting a beer from a bartender.

Text describes a bartender adding an auto tip without informing the customer, causing a double tip.

Text about absence of auto tip notifications at bar.

Text image discussing a refusal to accept an auto tip after double tipping, leading to a confrontation with the bartender.

Text showing a conversation about auto tipping between a bartender and a customer over a beer order.

Text describing a confrontation at a bar where a bartender reacts aggressively over tipping.

Text about being kicked out and telling son to finish beer quickly.

Text describing an incident involving a bartender and a customer over an auto tip dispute.

Text describing a police report being filed after a bartender attack over tipping issues.

Police speaking to a person outdoors, addressing an incident involving a bartender and tipping.

Image credits: NomadSoul1 / Envato (not the actual photo)

Text reveals a cop's account confirming bartender admitted to going overboard after refusing to tip on auto gratuity.

Text about police involvement and auto tip dispute after a bartender attack incident.

Image credits: fc2004

“I felt my son was taken advantage of,” the parent told Bored Panda

It’s no secret that, nowadays, tipping has become quite a pain point for many. It seems that wherever you go, there’s either a person, a pop-up window, or a jar staring straight into your soul, waiting for you to give in to the pressure. If you’re strong enough to resist said pressure, though, some establishments might take some rather drastic measures, as the OP’s story shows.

“Other than the physical a*****t, what upset me the most was how the bar was deceitful in hiding and not informing their customers of the auto tip,” the OP told Bored Panda in a recent interview. “There was absolutely nothing posted in the bar notifying of such. I felt my son was taken advantage of. My guess is that because this was a tourist area, it was a deliberate practice to mislead folks.”

In the Redditor’s opinion, since the pandemic, the tipping culture has changed quite dramatically. “In the one or two years post COVID, the public was accepting of the auto tip and tipping for services that historically were not given in the past. Now, I think tipping fatigue has set in, and people are tired of being ‘bullied’ for tipping for services not deserving.”

The OP is not the only one who has noticed a change in tipping culture over the last several years. According to a Pew Research Center survey from last year, as many as 72% of US adults believe that people are expected to leave a tip in more places nowadays than they were five years ago.

Surveys show that the majority of the general public opposes businesses including automatic service charges or tips

A bartender taking an order from a woman under a patio umbrella at an outdoor cafe.

Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

The aforementioned Pew Research Center survey also found that not everyone is equally sure when they’re expected to leave a tip. Only roughly a third of respondents found it extremely or very easy to know whether or how much to tip for different types of services.

“I personally struggle with what is deserving and/or expected, and I have gone back and forth,” the OP shared with Bored Panda. “I tip for all table service and bars. I do not tip if I order at the counter (for example, in fast food restaurants). It gets challenging when you order food at the counter, but they bring the food out to the table; more and more restaurants seem to be doing this.

“Takeout is another example of where I struggle to decide how much to tip. If it’s a larger order and the staff had to take time to get everything ready for pickup (for instance, Chinese food), I tip 10%.”

The Redditor said that typically, they would leave at least 20% or more when they are given personalized service and when they feel that the person was genuinely focused on the customer experience. “I don’t care for the waiters that are not engaging or attentive throughout the meal, but when they give me the bill, they act like my best friend,” they added.

While the OP doesn’t mind leaving a tip for good service, they weren’t equally in favor of the ‘auto tip’ the bartender added. It will likely come as no surprise that the Redditor is far from the only one feeling this way about it; according to the Pew Research Center, the majority—as much as 72%—of US adults say they oppose businesses including automatic service charges or tips on customers’ bills, no matter the size of their party. People in the comment section didn’t seem to be too supportive of the bar’s tipping policy, either.

The parent provided more details in the comments

Reddit comment discussing incident with bartender over auto tip, mentioning police involvement.

Comments discussing an incident with a bartender over tipping in Austin, TX, not on 6th Street.

Online comments about bartender attack over tip refusal and police involvement.

Fellow netizens shared their opinions on the situation, too

Comment about civil suit and bartender attack over auto tip refusal.

Comment advising legal action after bartender refuses tip.

A comment advises leaving a review about a bartender attack over tipping issues.

Comment on credit card chargeback for extra tip after auto tip.

Comment says "talk to a lawyer" in response to bartender tip incident.

Text discussing police response to bartender incident, questioning fairness and suggesting escalation to media.

Reddit comment with username No_Quantity8794 saying “Absolutely both,” related to tipping discussion.

Text discussing criminal charges and civil suit related to a bartender attacking a person over tipping issues.

Reddit comment urging person attacked by bartender for refusing additional tip to press charges.

Comment discussing a bartender attack over tipping dispute, suggesting legal action against the bartender and establishment.

Comment reacting to bartender attack over tip refusal, expressing anger and suggesting legal action.

Comment about legal action after person refused to tip on top of auto tip.

Comment discussing criminal charges for battery and theft, related to bartender attack over tipping issue.

Comment discussing bartenders getting out of control and being drunk frequently.

Reddit comment criticizing an establishment for not revealing a bar involved in a tipping altercation.

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