18% Gratuity on Alcoholic Beverages

[DeterminedOne]

Anyone know why the restaurants automatically add an 18% gratuity to alcoholic beverages? We used the Premium plan in which alcohol is not included, so why do they automatically add the gratuity?

 

[janets]

In our last few trips, any time we ordered anything off the DDP (alcoholic, kids light up cubes, etc.) the bill came with an automatic 198% gratuity. We had this at Coral Reef, LeCellier and I'm sure a few others.

Since I have a DDE card, it ends up negating the cost of the tip. But we had one of our best servers at Coral Reef in September and I added an additional tip to the OOP part of our bill for her.

Just be aware of it when you look over any bill. Frankly, I think you have the right to tip as you see fit, but I think they might do that because the tip is included with the DDP and they might be afraid people will forget to tip on their cash portion? Not sure of the reasoning, since most restaurants only add on a mandatory tip with larger parties.

 

[CathrynRose]

My question - to play devil (server's) advocate - is why do you have a problem with 18% grat being added?

 

[DeterminedOne]

My question - to play devil (server's) advocate - is why do you have a problem with 18% grat being added?

I wouldn't say that I have a problem with it. Otherwise, I would have complained about it at the time. I just thought it was odd, especially since they don't let you know upfront. Since tips are optional, I just thought it was odd and wondered if anyone knows why they do it.

 

[CathrynRose]

I wouldn't say that I have a problem with it. Otherwise, I would have complained about it at the time. I just thought it was odd, especially since they don't let you know upfront. Since tips are optional, I just thought it was odd and wondered if anyone knows why they do it.

Just a guess - would be if youre on the DDP, they just want to ensure their servers are tipped accordingly.

I remember before the DDP, they'd stick this little business size card, into the folder with your check, and in a bunch of different languages, it said how it was customary to tip between 15 and 20%, blah, blah, blah.

I would assume they had a lot of problems with this THEN, and are just trying to look out for their wait-staff.

 

[patsal]

I think it may have something to do with the computer system. Once your "table" is entered into the system for the DDP it adds 18% so when you separate the alcohol or other incidentals out it just automatically adds the 18%. I don't have a problem per se with this, but I did have a waitress still circle the tip and add spot on the first reciept I rec'd back. It wasn't until after I tipped and was thinking about how unusually expensive those two drinks were, that I reallized I had tipped a total of 38% and I realized I had double tipped. I think it would be more appropriate for the waitstaff to let you know the tip was included. The other time was when DH ordered a beer the total bill with 18% was $7. I only had a $50 so I gave that to the waitress and she actually asked if I needed change--yup really the service on recieving the beer was not quite $43.00 worth of service! Then I started thinking, do people really tip this much here on a beer--I'm obviously in the wrong line of work!

 

[Amyrlin]

My objectiosn is not tipping, but I like to choose how much to tip, and if 18% is added ion I feel mean ading on only enough to take it up to 20%. I also trhnk I should have the choice on how much to tip, whch, usually is 20% for good service.

The result is often, where it is added on automatically I don't add extra, at AP it was not added on and they got more than the 20%.

 

[saschab]

My only objection to the mandated tip on alcohol is in regard to a bottle of wine. The more expensive the wine, the more hefty the tip. When service is the same for a less expensive bottle. Talk about a luxury tax!

 

[drag n' fly]

I think it may have something to do with the computer system. Once your "table" is entered into the system for the DDP it adds 18% so when you separate the alcohol or other incidentals out it just automatically adds the 18%. I don't have a problem per se with this, but I did have a waitress still circle the tip and add spot on the first reciept I rec'd back. It wasn't until after I tipped and was thinking about how unusually expensive those two drinks were, that I reallized I had tipped a total of 38% and I realized I had double tipped. I think it would be more appropriate for the waitstaff to let you know the tip was included. The other time was when DH ordered a beer the total bill with 18% was $7. I only had a $50 so I gave that to the waitress and she actually asked if I needed change--yup really the service on recieving the beer was not quite $43.00 worth of service! Then I started thinking, do people really tip this much here on a beer--I'm obviously in the wrong line of work!

Any waitress that circles the tip would not get one. I would explain that tips are earned not assumed. In Canada if someone was brazen enough to do that the entire table would leave without tipping.... and the manager would be notified.

 

[Nancyg56]

My question - to play devil (server's) advocate - is why do you have a problem with 18% grat being added?

I like to determine my own gratuity. My DH actually avoids situations where the tip is included because he feels so strongly about making the decision himself. We are not cheap and tip well because I supported my family on my tips when the kids were little, and I am not so adverse as DH, but I would prefer to leave a tip based on service level rather than policy.

 

[Sammie]

It is due to being on a plan.

I would think that the wattress circled it so the guest would know you had already tipped her.

 

[patsal]

It is due to being on a plan.

I would think that the wattress circled it so the guest would know you had already tipped her.

No, she even mentioned that I needed to sign it and add the gratuity. She didn't circle where the 18% was added in, it was like she circled around the space where you would traditionally leave a tip and then add it up for the toal and she Xed the area for my signature. It was a lower light restaurant later inteh night--like 9pm in December--I thought the circles were being helpful for dealing with the lowered lighting conditions. It was only drinks so it really didn't amount to that big of a deal, other than the idea that "hey I double tipped for a few drinks that was really a huge amount for two drinks" I just use it as a warning for others to watch for it so they dont' make my mistake, and since then I check everything very carefully to be sure that I am not double tipping, but that I have tipped.

 

[tinkamom]

I doubled tipped a couple of times before I realized it was already added to the bill on our last trip. And only one waitress deserved it! I knew that tips were automatically added for parties of 8 and more but we were a party of 4!

 

[NMW]

I like to determine my own gratuity. My DH actually avoids situations where the tip is included because he feels so strongly about making the decision himself. We are not cheap and tip well because I supported my family on my tips when the kids were little, and I am not so adverse as DH, but I would prefer to leave a tip based on service level rather than policy.

We just returned Friday. All alcohol or OOP food/beverages has an automatic 18% tip added, IF you use the dining plan for your meal. A CM said that it can not be done any other way with the computer system. Our server at 'Ohana circled the tip he said to let us know that a tip was already included so we didn't tip double-which I found very NICE, not offensive. We always added extra to bring it up to 20% as well as adding extra to the dining plan bill to bring that up to 20% as well.

 

[TyRy]

We were there the last week in Sept beginning of Oct and found things did not have a reason to it. We ordered drinks at every meal. While one the DDP some retaurants added the 18% gratuity to the drinks, but then others did not. We just learned to check our bill each time to see if it was there or not.

Ty

 

[dolphindan1]

Any waitress that circles the tip would not get one. I would explain that tips are earned not assumed. In Canada if someone was brazen enough to do that the entire table would leave without tipping.... and the manager would be notified.

Yep....I agree...

I had that done at a Buffett style meal where I had to fix my own drinks one time....all the lady did was check to make sure I had no special order item....never saw her again and she wanted a tip....I laughed....

I dont agree with the 18 percent added on... even in groups....I think when this happens the waitress knows her tip is there and can relax on there service....If you service stinks I should be able to adjust my tip accordingly...JMHO

 

[lillygator]

why can't they be rung up sep? If you are using DDP to pay for your meal and plan on buying a bottle of wine OOP, why can't the server do them sep?

 

[patsal]

They are rung up separate, but the table is "tagged" DDP so any items ordered at that table are automatically set up with the 18%.

 

[tim allen]

So you can pay for oop items in cash so you dont get a big bill to pay at the end of your holiday ? I dont like the idea of charging everything to my room and having to sort it out on the last day

 

[cmwade77]

I would simply ask for separate checks for items not on the Dining Plan. I will only tip 18% for service that goes above and beyond, average service gets 15%, poor service less (to none depending on how poor). Here in California 15% is considered a normal tip, anything more is when your server has gone above and beyond what they needed to do. 20% is rare but I have been known to ip this or more in certain cases, but it needs to be earned.