Restaurant owners in World Cup cities take matters into their own hands’ over fears customers won’t tip

Article excerpt

Restaurant owners in World Cup host cities are adding surcharges to bills, bracing for an influx of international visitors unfamiliar with American tipping norms. The move aims to protect servers and kitchen staff from lost income when foreign customers, accustomed to gratuities included in prices or absent altogether, fail to tip. Some operators frame the surcharges as a buffer against "cultural confusion," while others see it as necessary insurance during the tournament's high-traffic period. The strategy reflects growing anxiety in the hospitality sector about how global events reshape customer behavior.