Society says we should tip waiters and waitresses in restaurants - but is that right?

It's a nice gesture if you've had particularly good service but it's horrible when you feel guilty for not doing it. It shouldn't be obligatory. And equally, servers ought to be nice to you anyway and make your experience a good one, since it's their job, not be nice in the hope of getting a big tip. Sometimes when you look at the menu and think "Well, I can afford to treat myself to a cheap meal" you get quite a shock when you get the bill and the 12.5% service charge has been added, plus tax and you realise that was quite an expensive meal after all. And you'll look like a total dck if you ask for the "non-compulsory" service charge to be removed. Something else that has happened in the UK recently is that it transpired that these service charges weren't going to the servers after all, but just added to company profits. It's all quite depressing especially if you're not well paid yourself.