Tipping for free drinks in the USA?
We have quite a few questions on tipping in the USA, but looking through I can't seem to spot one that covers this.
When in the USA, if you are somewhere where drinks are free but served to you, is it expected to tip the person pouring / bringing the drink, and if so, how much?
Additionally, does it vary by location / setting? For example, might an airport / hotel lounge differ from an all-inclusive hotel / resort?
(I'm currently in an airline lounge at a US airport, and was given some vouchers for free drinks when I entered, which are given to the barstaff in exchange for drinks. Some people seem to give a tip, some not. A few weeks ago I was in a hotel lounge which had free drinks for an hour in the evening, with a member of staff removing beers from the fridge and opening them for you, but I was the only one there then so didn't have anyone to copy....)
Best Answer
In general, if you're in a place that also sells drinks and you're using vouchers, etc then tip as you would if you'd paid. So a dollar or two per drink depending on price and place. Same goes for discounts and other freebies like a 2 for 1 deal -- although you could choose to tip more up front. Obviously if the staff just decide to give you a freebie then tip on that too and generously (since you just got a free drink).
Otherwise, if the staff rely on tips, they lose out because someone has scored some vouchers or something.
For all-inclusive, I'd follow the same rules as you would at a similar non-inclusive resort in the same country. Unless it explicitly says somewhere that tips are not expected / are included.
In the free hour at the hotel lounge it's more tricky. Again if it's a normal bar and a bartender then tip as normal (or tip all at once up front or at the end). If it's just a hotel employee occasionally fetching you a drink I wouldn't think tipping is expected. But it's probably appreciated so maybe leave them something at the end of the hour.
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How much do you tip for a free drink?
As if you'd already paid for it? Do you just give the normal tip you would have given on a regular drink? Here's the rule: you tip 50% of what the drink would've cost you, plus your tip.Do you tip with every drink in America?
3. The $1 for 1 drink rule is totally acceptable\u2014except when you're ordering cocktails. The consensus among most of the bartenders I spoke with is that you should tip $1 per beer, but $2 per cocktail.How much should you tip for a $10 drink?
To tip a bartender when you're paying with cash, leave a tip for every drink you order. Try to leave at least 1 dollar for every drink, or 2 dollars if you're in a nicer bar. If you're paying with a card, tip around 20 percent of your tab at the end of the night.How much do you tip on a $5 drink?
I was taught 20% is the standard now, or $1 per every $5 spent. Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you order one beer, a shot, or something very simple, then a $1 tip for pouring a draft is acceptable.How to tip in the USA: Tipping for dummies
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Images: Polina Tankilevitch, Polina Tankilevitch, David Peterson, Tembela Bohle