Gen Z Drinkers Stir Debate as Bartenders Say Tips Are Drying Up

A ‘Terrible’ Trend Behind the Bar

A new generational divide is bubbling up in America’s nightlife — and it’s not about cocktails or craft beer. Bartenders across the country are sounding off about Gen Z’s growing reluctance to tip, calling it one of the most frustrating trends in hospitality today.

According to a Bankrate survey released this summer, Gen Z — those born in the late 1990s and early 2000s — are the least frequent tippers of any generation. That trend extends to bars, where tip jars are getting lighter and patience behind the counter is running thin.

“Even five years ago, young people would still be kind of generous,” California bartender Brit Wolfe Wilson told the San Francisco Standard. “Now they’re definitely skimping on tips.”

The 20% Rule Still Stands

Hospitality expert Derek Brown, co-founder of Washington D.C.’s Drink Company, says tipping standards haven’t changed — even if customers have. “That’s how much a tip should be,” Brown told Fox News Digital. “Now I understand that if you get poor service, maybe you knock it down to 18%. I get that.”

Brown says bartenders should always receive the same 20% standard that restaurant servers do, noting the physical toll of long shifts. “You’re spending eight to ten hours on your feet, making hundreds of drinks,” he said. “To have somebody stiff you on a tip is just terrible.”

Gen Z’s Split Decision

Not every Gen Z customer is walking away without tipping. Some, like 22-year-old Florida State University graduate and former bartender Katie Fites, say they understand the struggle. “Unless you’re really, really mean to me, I’m going to leave you a tip — even if it’s just a dollar,” she said.

Another recent FSU graduate, Kaitlyn Walsh, echoed the sentiment, saying she always aims to tip 20% when out at a bar. “I know how it feels to not get tipped,” Walsh said. “I have a lot of friends who work in food and are bartenders too. So I know what they feel when they don’t get tips.”

Still, even among tippers, there’s frustration when friends don’t follow suit. “You could look over and someone’s filling out the receipt, and they’re just putting zero or slashing it,” Walsh said.

Culture Clash in the Cash Drawer

Industry veterans suggest the shift may stem from digital payment fatigue, rising prices, or a generation that’s more budget-conscious than ever. But for many behind the bar, excuses don’t pour evenly with the workload.

As Derek Brown put it: “These people are working incredibly hard. So tip your bartender 20% across the board — always.”