Tipping in restaurants and food outlets has become what seems the norm in the UK, after the behaviour was adopted from the USA. Unless you've had a truly awful experience in a restaurant, it seems there is an obligation to leave near to a 10% bundle of change on the table as you leave. If you don't, there's often a guilt which washes over you as you hurry out the restaurant avoiding eye contact. In my view, this is totally wrong. There are few other jobs in life where people and society expect individuals to be tipped for the work they are doing. Just like most people in the country, especially those visiting restaurants, the staff at these food outlets are paid to be there. Serving your table is their job and they receive an income for doing so. Why then, should there be an expectation for a restaurant go-er to pay for their meal, and then give the staff an additional bonus when they are simply doing their job? Especially, when it could be completely possible for the waiter's standard wage to be more than yours. I think the expectation for tipping waiters and waitresses needs to be dropped, as it is not standard across all industries, and only in exceptional cases where the staff have gone above and beyond should it be normal behaviour.

Restaurants are run on the effort of poorly paid staff putting in many hours. Tipping is a convention that has arised over time which makes it possible for those staff members to increase their take home pay through customers leaving money in addition to the cost of the meal and drinks expressing their satisfaction with their experience of eating, drinking, and service. Figures from 2012 suggest that tipping in London averages 11.8%, in Toronto 17.1%, and in New York 19.1%. If the figures were based purely on cost of living then New York and London should be pretty much equal given the expense of both cities. Personally, I favour tipping when I've had a good experience, and not when I've had a bad one - I don't believe it should be automatic. Even when tips are made, it's up to the establishment whether they're received by staff - some places don't allow them to be kept by employees. I like the idea that I can directely reward the people who contribute to me having a good experience, and don't think it's fair when management pools tips.

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.

In many countries outside Europe tipping is the only income for waiting staff. They in turn have to 'tip out' or redistribute these funds, to bar staff or cloakroom attendants and so on.

In the UK employment law determines the pay these staff must receive – the national minimum wage. This legislation also states that employers are not allowed to cover any shortfall in wages with tips. More and more restaurants now factor the service charge directly into the bill – although this should be made plain to customers from the outset.

A common excuse for foregoing a tip is dissatisfaction with the meal. But it must be considered that waiter is merely transporting dishes to the table and shouldn't be held responsible for any shortcomings in the kitchen.

With taxi drivers or takeaway delivery staff, it is really down to etiquette and whether or not you feel service was exceptional. A little extra on top of the taxi fare will certainly cheer up the driver; whether it gives you the same level of satisfaction is subjective.

Restaurants shouldn't exist; waiters are slaves