I always thought tipping $1 a beer was the norm. Unfortunately, the waitress looked disappointed when I gave her $3 for three beers. Maybe it's because it was table service at a touristy pub? What do you guys think?
I think $1/beer is perfectly reasonable. I've noticed the price of beer has skyrocketed at the pubs/bars, but assuming the absolute high end of $8 per beer, that's still a 12.5% tip which seems fine to me.
I usually tip somewhere between 10% and 15% on a good day. People can call me a cheap bastard if they want, but it's already getting crazy expensive to eat out and that's 10/15% on top of the higher alcohol/food prices. The waiters/waitresses always look disappointed. I've learned to stop worrying about it. It's either that, or I stop eating out all together which is zero dollars in anyone's pocket.
0%: anywhere the payment happens before the service is provided, or for outright bad service
10%: for service that is just taking and serving an order, for mediocre full service, or for lesser service at a place I just really like and want to support
15%: for good "full" service (multiple orders, repeatedly checking in, etc)