[s1artibartfast]

I dont think that logic really follows. The cost to the consumer foot traffic is the same if it is tip or wage.

If customers are willing to pay the price + tip to have a equivalent $15/hr salary, they should be willing to do so with just the price, e.g. $5 beers vs $4 beers +$1 tip.

Im sure there are some cultural issues around changing the norm in the US, but it works out mathematically, and there is evidence from all around the world where tipping is not the norm.

[huytersd]

Well the restaurant doesn’t guarantee the worker $15. If you don’t have enough tips, the worker just makes less.

[woodruffw]

This isn’t true in the US: if the minimum wage is $15 and the worker only makes $8 in tips, the employer is required by law to cover the difference.

Note: this doesn’t change the fact that minimum wage is a pittance.