Tipping habits in restaurants vary from country to country. In
some places, tipping is explicitly expected, while in others, it is
not required. The Hungarian Competition Authority (HCA) provides
information on tipping and service charges to help companies avoid
unfair commercial practices and to help consumers make informed
decisions.
The difference between a service charge and a tip is that while
service charges are a mandatory form of revenue for restaurants,
which can only be used to pay employee wages (benefiting all
employees), a tip is a voluntary, discretionary payment determined
by the customer, used to express satisfaction with the service.
Restaurants are free to set the rate of the service charge they
apply, and they must clearly indicate it, including on the
menu.
