Should you tip waiting staff more at Christmas? Etiquette expert recommends DOUBLING tips over the festive period (as study shows the older people get, the less they give)

Britons are by their very nature quite cautious with restaurant tips. But an etiquette expert is advising them to loosen up over the festive period and be more generous.

In fact, he recommends doubling the amount they’d normally offer.  

John-Paul Stuthridge said: ‘We Brits like to tip deservedly, not excessively. Christmas time is the one time of the year we ramp it up a little. Nobody has to, but stepping the tips up is all part of the good and convivial festive spirit.

‘This may mean tipping in higher amounts – 20 per cent instead of 10 per cent – or simply tipping more often.

‘Tipping on the spot via the card machine is still not fully normalised to many people, but if a server or establishment till has a plate, coffee cup, or similar, then dropping a couple of pounds in there is always welcome. Hospitality staff work deeply unsociable days and hours this time of year, and so tip accordingly for that – especially on or around Christmas day.’

The younger generation, however, may not be minded to follow the advice of John-Paul. 

He was speaking as part of a survey into tipping culture by card payment and solutions provider Dojo, with the study revealing that 18 to 24-year-olds generally tip over three times more than older generations, at an average of £18.24 per £100 bill. 

In comparison, those 65 and over pay an average of £5.11 per £100 bill, which falls under the typical 10 per cent tip. 

John-Paul Stuthridge said: ‘Hospitality staff work deeply unsociable days and hours this time of year, and so tip accordingly for that – especially on or around Christmas day’

The survey, based on 2,000 UK adults, revealed that respondents aged 55 to 64 offer even less, with an average of £5.01 on a £100 bill. 

This group also claimed that they would prefer to abolish the typical service charge and give a tip based on the service they received.

The survey revealed that those in the 45 to 54 age bracket offer a slightly higher tip – an average of £5.15 per £100 bill – those between 35 and 44 tip £6.52 per £100 and 25 to 34-year-olds leave an average of £9.26. 

While this is a more generous amount than the older generation, and puts this age bracket in the runner-up spot, it still falls under the 10 per cent average.