A Waikiki restaurant has stirred controversy by applying a mandatory 15% tip to diners who don’t speak English.

A friend of mine has a son who is a waiter in a Parisian restaurant – and he is always delighted to see Americans sit down to eat in his establishment.

Why? They tip.

In France, tips are officially included in the price of a meal, and this is clearly marked on menus: “service compris.”  But Americans travelling there may not be aware of this fact – or, due to influence from their own culture, may simply feel bad about not tipping.

The opposite problem can arise too, however, as witnessed by a Waikiki restaurant’s new policy of imposing a 15% tip on customers who don’t speak English.

The move has drawn the attention of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, which is considering making an inquiry into the possibly discriminatory practice.

The restaurant has good arguments on its side, though. Almost all of its customers are tourists, and many come from Japan, where tipping is not practiced. Also waiters must pay taxes on a flat rate based on probably tips – whether they receive them or not.

When travelling abroad, tipping in general is a sticky wicket. Of course, travellers should bone up on local customs before their trip, but even in the information age, this clearly doesn’t always happen.

Betty Carlson

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