Ask a Yank (non political questions) thread.

[piglet1979]

I always find it odd that although I leave a few $ every day on the sink there is usually a tray of some sort - they rarely if ever take it. I've had this at Universal, Disney and even hotels in Europe.
It always baffles me when they don't take it, but then I think back to that thread where the woman was complaining a few dollars were taken from her room that were left where the tip was meant to be.

When we were on our Cruise back in October (NCL), we left money on the desk for the person who cleaned our room. He did not take she we let him know the next time we saw him. They were not allowed to take any money unless in it was handed to them or in an envelope addressed to them. If they just took the money they would get fired. I understand this but it never occurred to me.

 

[clappyclaps]

I love those medical adds they are hilarious, usually they are aimed at treating some minor problem, but at the end you get the list of possible side effects, all of which are far worse than the original problem you were trying to treat. The next advert is then often a law firm offering to get you compensation for some medical treatment or drug that has caused these side effects..it’s bonkers.

The fact that death is more often that not quoted as a side effect is also quite concerning!

 

[lanejudy]

Another thing I've found interesting, completely unrelated to the above, is the sheer number of commercial breaks when watching TV and the abundance of ads for pharmaceuticals - all of which seem to have a concerning amount of side effects listed. Obviously the world of healthcare is completely different in the US to what we have in the UK but I've always wondered how these commercials go down for locals.

I believe the US is the only country in the world that allowed direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals, though there may be one other. However, most of the meds are available globally and have the same side effects in the UK... I'm guessing you never pay much attention to the literature or do you not get that documentation with a prescription?

 

[SnowBeast]

Can somebody explain the tipping rules when it comes to buying a drink at a bar. If I stand at the bar and order a pint, the bar man pours the pint and hands it to me (or in the posh places he puts it on a napkin), am I supposed to tip him? I’m not talking about sitting down at a table and having it delivered, or getting a fancy cocktail made, I’m just talking about a straight forward beer at the bar. It’s a completely alien concept over here in the UK so I genuinely have no idea who I’m supposed to be tipping and why. I understand tipping somebody for doing something beyond what their job would entail, but giving a tip for somebody to do the only job they have to do seems a bit mad.

 

[SnowBeast]

The fact that death is more often that not quoted as a side effect is also quite concerning!

although death does tend to cure most illnesses

 

[Smugpugmug]

Can somebody explain the tipping rules when it comes to buying a drink at a bar. If I stand at the bar and order a pint, the bar man pours the pint and hands it to me (or in the posh places he puts it on a napkin), am I supposed to tip him? I’m not talking about sitting down at a table and having it delivered, or getting a fancy cocktail made, I’m just talking about a straight forward beer at the bar. It’s a completely alien concept over here in the UK so I genuinely have no idea who I’m supposed to be tipping and why. I understand tipping somebody for doing something beyond what their job would entail, but giving a tip for somebody to do the only job they have to do seems a bit mad.

I may get flack for this and if so then that's fine but I don't tip in that scenario. I was just at a restaurant with bar seating over the weekend and when I ordered a beer, the bartender opened a bottle and handed it to me. Didn't even pour it into a glass (I just asked for a glass to pour it myself). I did not tip in that case because all they did was open a bottle and give it to me. I'd do the same if it was a draft beer btw.

 

[schumigirl]

It’s a completely alien concept over here in the UK

It`s really not unusual over here.

We still tip over here for dining out, taxis, hair salons and so on. Not usually 20-25% in restaurants unless we have exceptional service, it`s usually around 15-20% dining out.

We tip delivery drivers for Chinese/Indian/Pizza and so on too and everyone I know tips the same way, except that one guy, but there`s always one

I`m genuinely surprised to hear some folks don`t tip in the UK.

We do tip well in the USA but the service is always deserving.

 

[SnowBeast]

It`s really not unusual over here.

We still tip over here for dining out, taxis, hair salons and so on. Not usually 20-25% in restaurants unless we have exceptional service, it`s usually around 15-20% dining out.

We tip delivery drivers for Chinese/Indian/Pizza and so on too and everyone I know tips the same way, except that one guy, but there`s always one

I`m genuinely surprised to hear some folks don`t tip in the UK.

We do tip well in the USA but the service is always deserving.

You wouldn’t tip in a pub though would you?

 

[schumigirl]

You wouldn’t tip in a pub though would you?

Absolutely we do, if my husband and I are sitting at the bar, no question we would tip, wouldn`t give it a second thought. It`s perfectly common to say and one for yourself or just give a straight tip to bar staff.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Can somebody explain the tipping rules when it comes to buying a drink at a bar. If I stand at the bar and order a pint, the bar man pours the pint and hands it to me (or in the posh places he puts it on a napkin), am I supposed to tip him? I’m not talking about sitting down at a table and having it delivered, or getting a fancy cocktail made, I’m just talking about a straight forward beer at the bar. It’s a completely alien concept over here in the UK so I genuinely have no idea who I’m supposed to be tipping and why. I understand tipping somebody for doing something beyond what their job would entail, but giving a tip for somebody to do the only job they have to do seems a bit mad.

You don't have to tip.

 

[SnowBeast]

Absolutely we do, if my husband and I are sitting at the bar, no question we would tip, wouldn`t give it a second thought. It`s perfectly common to say and one for yourself or just give a straight tip to bar staff.

It’s not common where I’m from, maybe in London or somewhere down south but not round me. Round up to the nearest quid for a taxi, a fiver for a meal and a couple of quid for a takeaway driver maybe but nothing like the extremes they go to in US.

 

[SnowBeast]

You don't have to tip.

You basically do though unless you want to risk getting shouted at or chased down the street

 

[schumigirl]

It’s not common where I’m from, maybe in London or somewhere down south but not round me. Round up to the nearest quid for a taxi, a fiver for a meal and a couple of quid for a takeaway driver maybe but nothing like the extremes they go to in US.

Not meaning to be contrary, we have lived in several areas around the UK and tipping is normal everywhere, in our experience, ymmv of course.

But, I would disagree tipping is alien over here, it`s maybe not as costly to some folks, but it`s very much the norm to anyone we know. My stylist for example makes a very sizeable amount from tips, it`s very much part of our culture.

Again, in our experience.

 

[Buzz Rules]

You basically do though unless you want to risk getting shouted at or chased down the street

That would never happen. It's not mandatory. I expect excellent service because it's their job. I am only required to pay my bill. Most young people I know agree with me. They can not require you to give more than you owe unless there is a mandatory gratuity which a restaurant or bar would usually tell you up front.

 

[imbelle]

I always thought it strange how in the US a 16 year old kid is deemed responsible enough to drive themselves (and others) around on public roads where one wrong move could cause serious injury or death, but on the other hand they can’t have a beer in a pub until 21. Were coming back to Florida later this year and my son will be a few weeks off being 21 and my daughter over 18 so it tickles me that they will both have to sit and watch me sup a nice cold beer whilst they drink a milk shake.

I always suspected that it had something to do with parents being thrilled that at 16 their offspring can now cart themselves to all of their activities, but not drink while they do so.

 

[SnowBeast]

That would never happen. It's not mandatory. I expect excellent service because it's their job. I am only required to pay my bill. Most young people I know agree with me. They can not require you to give more than you owe unless there is a mandatory gratuity which a restaurant or bar would usually tell you up front.

It absolutely can happen, it happened to my brother and his family in New York. They were eating in some sort of themed restaurant and they left what they thought was a reasonable tip and left. Next minute they had a guy dressed as the mad hatter running after them shouting at them .

 

[Buzz Rules]

It absolutely can happen, it happened to my brother and his family in New York. They were eating in some sort of themed restaurant and they left what they thought was a reasonable tip and left. Next minute they had a guy dressed as the mad hatter running after them shouting at them .

Two things. I say this as a Hudson Vallian (north of NYC). First, NYC people can be crazy. That guy was absolutely wrong and if that happens ever again, simply go straight to a cop and they will take care of the idiot. Second, tipping is a voluntary choice and as I said before, unless there is a mandatory gratuity actually listed somewhere, you are not required whatsoever to tip. It is not your responsibility to pay for their hourly/salary short comings. That's solely between the employer and the employee at the end of the day.

 

[clappyclaps]

I believe the US is the only country in the world that allowed direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals, though there may be one other. However, most of the meds are available globally and have the same side effects in the UK... I'm guessing you never pay much attention to the literature or do you not get that documentation with a prescription?

Oh no, we do get all of the warnings on medications about side effects and such - but I guess because we don't get that direct to consumer advertising, we don't register it the same? Even the few ads we get for over the counter/off the shelf meds (low grade painkillers, cough/cold remedies etc) don't go into the side effects quite like the US ads do.

 

[zavandor]

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/underage-drinking/minimum-legal-drinking-age

Does it work?
I have yet to see an instance where prohibitionism has resolved the problem, instead of aggravating it.
Seen from a distance (and admittedly judging from movies and other media), it seems teens still find a way to drink and then they develop an association between alcohol and transgression and fun which leads them to binge drinking, both at a young age and later in life. Does being (supposedly) teetotal until 21, means young people are responsible in the way they drink as soon as they go to college?

 

[lanejudy]

You wouldn’t tip in a pub though would you?

I do. Bartenders often rely on their tips similar to waitstaff.