England supporters attending the World Cup will now be required to pay an additional 20 percent on their beer and food purchases. Numerous pubs and restaurants across the United States have implemented compulsory gratuities on customer bills, driven by concerns that low-wage staff might otherwise suffer financial losses.
Why the Change?
Many establishments serving food and beverages have chosen to apply a straightforward service charge to all transactions. While some England fans have voiced objections to this decision, others have welcomed it, describing it as simple common sense. The policy is being adopted in several key locations, including Kansas City, where many of the players’ partners and families, known as WAGS, will be staying at the England team headquarters. Additionally, venues in Dallas, Boston, and New York—cities where England will play their group stage matches—are increasingly following this new approach.
Protecting Workers
American bar staff and waiters are notoriously underpaid, relying heavily on customer gratuities, which typically range from 15 to 20 percent. Mike Burris, executive director of the Missouri Restaurant Association in Kansas City, explained: “Of all the countries coming here, some of them will know about tipping, and some of them don't know anything about it. If I were a server, I wouldn't be too happy if I took care of somebody for 90 minutes and they didn't tip just because they didn't know any better.”
Steve DiFillippo, owner of Davio’s Italian restaurant in Boston and a board member of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, confirmed that participating establishments will inform customers of the policy change through messages on their menus. He insisted the move is vital to protecting workers’ jobs: “Our servers and bartenders are the lifeblood of our industry. We would never want them to get hurt.”
Cultural Differences
Teneshia Murray Butler, owner of T’s Brunch Bar in Atlanta, noted cultural differences: “Different peoples' cultures, it’s not nothing bad, they just don't tip. They're not used to it in other countries. And so they just don't like the tip. No matter where you live, what country you live in, I just want you to be happy and have great food and good customer service. And I want them to pay tips. I want them to take care of the server. That's my only goal.” Her restaurant plans to raise its current 18 percent automatic gratuity to 20 percent.
Staff and Fan Reactions
Waiter Slim Clark expressed enthusiasm about the event and noted that staff have been discussing it constantly. Clark described the mandatory 20 percent as “just another number” and emphasized that the restaurant will maintain its high standard of service: “We're going to keep our service going the same way we always.”
England fans had mixed views. Dave Robbins, 62, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, said: “I’ve already factored in that tips are going to cost me. It’s probably easier to have it all on one bill. I don’t think most fans will have a problem with that.” However, Phil Warwick, from Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, disagreed: “Of course we will tip - but we will choose how much we pay depending on the quality of the service. This is wrong.” The 57-year-old added: “We know it’s going to be expensive, we know we are under pressure to tip, but it should not be forced on us. That’s just not right. Only in Donald Trump’s MAGA America could this happen.”
