Tipping has long been a cornerstone of dining culture in the United States, with many servers relying on tips to make ends meet. But recently, a viral video from a man named Dustin Anderson has sparked a new debate on social media. Anderson’s stance? He’s done with tipping.
In his now-viral TikTok video, Anderson explains his frustration with tipping culture, and it’s resonating with many people who feel the same. So, why is tipping such a hot topic? And could we be on the brink of seeing a major shift in the way restaurants and customers handle this long-standing tradition?
In the United States, tipping isn’t just appreciated—it’s often expected. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and even takeout counters have made tipping a nearly mandatory part of the experience. According to Restaurant Business Online, 98% of customers at full-service restaurants leave a tip, with the national average hovering around 19.7%. Yet, tipping has expanded beyond just restaurants. Many consumers are now being asked to tip up to five times a week, even for services that don’t seem to warrant a tip.
This overwhelming expectation is precisely what Dustin Anderson is pushing back against. In his video, Anderson says, “So, I’m not tipping anymore—I’m done, I’m out.” He goes on to explain that tipping should be reserved for exceptional service, not for what he considers basic job duties like carrying food to the table or refilling drinks.
For Anderson, tipping has morphed from being a reward for outstanding service into an obligatory action, and he’s had enough.
At the heart of Anderson’s argument is the idea that tipping should reflect service quality, not be an automatic expectation. He questions why servers are entitled to an extra 20-25% for simply doing their job: “They made food, and you carried it to my table… You don’t get 25 percent because you did your job.”
@therealdustinanderson #tips ♬ original sound – Unpopular T-shirts
This raises an interesting question: What constitutes exceptional service today? Many diners tip out of habit or pressure, rather than because they received above-and-beyond treatment. The social expectation of tipping is so ingrained that customers often feel guilty or rude for not leaving one, regardless of service quality.
For Anderson, the solution is simple—pay servers a fair wage and eliminate tipping altogether. He remarks, “I don’t want people to go hungry. Just tell me what it costs so that the waitstaff doesn’t have to do some Lord of the Flies, Oliver Twist stuff.”
One of the most contentious parts of this debate is the wages earned by servers. In many states, waitstaff earn far below minimum wage, with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. As one TikTok user responded to Anderson’s video, “People forget that waiters, waitresses, and bus staff do not even receive minimum wages.”
In fact, the federal tipped minimum wage in the U.S. is just $2.13 per hour. This means that without tips, many servers rely on less than a livable wage to pay their bills. Advocates of tipping argue that it’s a necessary part of supporting workers in an industry where wages are unfairly low. For them, Anderson’s call to stop tipping could directly harm those who are already struggling.
Viewers were divided over Dustin’s comments. Credit: Robert Alexander/Getty
But there’s a growing movement that echoes Anderson’s sentiment—that the real problem is not tipping itself, but rather the wage structure that makes tipping a necessity. Some argue for following the European model, where service workers are paid fair, livable wages, and tipping is rare or nonexistent.
In many European countries, tipping is not customary because servers are paid a fair wage to begin with. Rather than relying on customer generosity to make ends meet, they are compensated directly by their employers. A similar system could benefit U.S. workers by eliminating the uncertainty of tips and providing them with a stable, livable income.
One TikTok user commented on Anderson’s video, “We need to turn to the European model. Pay for work, no tipping involved.” This idea resonates with many who feel that the current tipping system is not only outdated but unjust.
While tipping fatigue grows among consumers, there’s a valid concern about how restaurants would adapt to such a shift. If businesses were to raise wages for their staff, it’s likely that menu prices would increase to cover the costs. For customers, this could mean higher upfront bills, though they would no longer need to factor in an additional tip.
Some critics of Anderson’s stance argue that those who don’t want to tip should simply avoid dining out. One user responded, “Don’t eat out then.” But for many, this debate goes beyond the act of tipping—it’s about creating a more equitable system for both servers and customers.
Dustin Anderson’s video taps into a broader conversation about tipping in America. With a growing number of consumers questioning the fairness of tipping expectations and servers pushing for higher wages, the future of tipping culture seems uncertain.
However, shifting away from tipping would require a significant overhaul of the restaurant industry, which has long relied on tips to subsidize low wages. Restaurants would need to find a way to fairly compensate their workers without drastically impacting their bottom line—or the wallets of their customers.
As Anderson points out, the solution could be as simple as charging customers what the food and service actually cost, ensuring that servers are paid fairly without relying on tips to make up the difference.
The debate over tipping in America has been ongoing for years, but Dustin Anderson’s viral video has brought it back into the spotlight. While many agree with his stance that tipping should not be automatic, others argue that the issue lies with how servers are compensated.
Ultimately, the future of tipping culture in the U.S. will depend on whether the restaurant industry and consumers alike are ready for a shift towards fair wages and away from tipping as we know it. What are your thoughts on the tipping debate? Should we follow the European model and eliminate tipping in favor of higher wages, or is tipping too ingrained in American culture to change? Let us know in the comments.
