baobab, yes, I dislike the European restroom tipping! In Belgium, where I often visit, it isn't really tipping, it is more of a mandatory fee to visit the restroom. I always wash my hands before eating and after too, so that means at least 2 trips to the washroom. I think that the tipping or fee for use restrooms maybe discourages good hygiene. I also dislike the charging for water! As far as I know, at U.S. restaurants, both drinking water and washrooms must be supplied at no charge.

As for punishing employees...well...when a person applies for a job where a substantial part of the wage comes from tips, they figure that when decided whether the wage is sufficient. If people stopped getting tips, the they would expect companies to pay higher wages or they would look elsewhere for better wages. Since many people don't want to punish employees, I think that the company must be one to make the move. Maybe we should start a consumer revolt? However, still, if I know in advance the employee cannot keep their tip, I don't feel obligated to supply their wage just because the company won't pay. Why not turn over the tips to the company and let them keep the tips, but pay a decent set wage? ..we are really doing that now, just that the wage is determined on a day-to-day basis.

boabob...my spell checker tried to substitute "baboon" for your name *LOL*