It seems to have become the norm now for restaurants and pubs to add a 12.5% or more service charge onto meals. The price of eating out has rapidly increased with food inflation, energy costs, minimum wages increases over the last few years that now 12.5% additional on the meal can be decent amount of money for serving up a few plates and drinks. I paid £45 service on my last family meal for 4. If prices are going up again this month for the minimum wage increase and national insurance this will also increase the service charges add to bills. Surely with higher prices for meals and staff getting a higher basic wage some restaurants will need to start lowering the service charge % to be reasonable, or do you think people will just pay the extra service. I do sometimes wonder if I am out of touch for feeling like service charges are excessive for a tip, given waiters are serving many customers and you get a very small amount of their time in service. The Uk law changed last year so all optional services charges are 100% given to staff as tips. Often restaurants are busy so I guess it doesn't seem to bother most. I have to admit I have started eating out less just because I don't like the added service charges. I have a few times asked for the optional service charge to be taken off and then paid a cash tip if the service charge felt excessive, but I really don't like the awkwardness of doing this. If restaurant prices go up again to raise minimum wage and cover other inflationary costs will you still be happy to pay the 12.5% service charge on the higher prices.