To be fair to her.
On my last visit to the US I found it tiring to have to add 10, or more depending on service, percent to everything -- and I thought I saw service charges in restaurants.
I still have no idea how much to tip in most countries I've visited in mainland Europe either.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 18:16, 1 reply)

These days, 20% is the norm.
However, if you're buying and paying for drinks individually and not running a tab, typically $1 per drink is normal. If it's a more upscale bar and you order a mixed drink, $2 per drink is "expected".
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 18:24, closed)

See?
It may well have been 20 -- which is actually a large ammount when you spend the night running up a tab...
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 18:44, closed)

?
So if you go to a bar you have to have a pocket full of low denomination bills to tip with? Also, does that mean bartenders get a few hundred dollars in tips every day? They must be loaded.
( browser still relating boring anecdotes into a void on, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:10, closed)

I find automatic tipping weird.
It was explained to me in the US that you tip for every drink regardless of service. I questioned this, and was informed that it's been the norm for so long there that a lot of bar/waiting staff wages are basically insufficient to live a normal life, because the massive majority of their income is expected to be tips.

weird.
( Mockingbird Practitioner of SCIENCE, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 18:50, closed)