Where Your American Tip Is an Insult (And Why)

You leave 20% because that's what good people do. In Tokyo, staff may chase you down the street to give it back. In Germany, leaving coins on the table can come across as slightly rude. And about a century ago, six US states made tipping illegal. In this video we map how restaurant tipping works around the world (East Asia, Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand) and explain WHY each place landed where it did. 0:00 The 20% habit 0:26 How America got here (and the states that banned tips) 1:56 East Asia: the price is the price 3:40 Europe: round it up 5:09 Egypt & the Middle East: baksheesh 6:14 Latin America: the 10% line 7:13 Australia & New Zealand 7:35 The big picture If you could change one thing about tipping in America, what would it be? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe for the next map. Sources: Japan National Tourism Organization: https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/tipping-i... Japan Consumer Hotline for Tourists: https://www.cht.kokusen.go.jp/en/culture/p... Visit Seoul: https://english.visitseoul.net/essential-I... Shanghai Government FAQ: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-FAQs-Li... Visit Singapore: https://www.visitsingapore.com/content/dam... BBC Travel, How to tip around the world (2023): https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2023060... Rick Steves, Tipping in Europe: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/mon... Condé Nast Traveler: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/heres-how... Rough Guides, Egypt customs: https://www.roughguides.com/egypt/customs-... Brazil Law 13.419/2017: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato... MPCE (Ceará consumer protection), 10% service charge: https://mpce.mp.br/decon/duvidas/bares-e-r... Lonely Planet, Mexico tips: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/17-t... Visit Abu Dhabi, taxes & tipping: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan-your-trip... Visit Sweden: https://visitsweden.com/about-sweden/tipping/ Visit Norway: https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip... Visit Reykjavík: https://visitreykjavik.is/currency-credit-... City of Toronto, visitor info (Canada tipping): https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/visit... Visit Argentina: https://www.argentina.travel/en/news/how-m... Tourism Australia: https://www.australia.com/en-nz/facts-and-... Tourism New Zealand: https://www.newzealand.com/nz/feature/new-... US Dept. of Labor, tipped minimum wages: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/min... Wikipedia, Gratuity (US anti-tipping laws 1909–1926; citing Segrave, Tipping, 1998): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity POLITICO Magazine on "The Itching Palm" (1916): https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/20... Customs change, and they vary by city and venue. Always check your bill for a service charge. Map colors are simplified categories for restaurant tipping. Narration is AI-generated (synthetic voice). Script, research and map design are original work by the channel. Music is original and generated in code.