Drawing upon her rich experience of life, Prudence (Prudie to her friends) responds to questions about manners, personal relations, politics, and other subjects. Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. Queries should not exceed 200 words in length. Please indicate how you wish your letter to be signed, preferably including your location.
Dear Prudence,
As we all know, wine in restaurants is frequently outrageously overpriced. The alternative is to bring your own and expect to pay corkage. I have noted, however, that even corkage charges are rising to an unacceptable level. Aside from this, the charge is included in the bottom line bill. My question is: What might be considered an appropriate tip on the total, given that the corkage charge is for service as well?
Appreciate your comments.
--Jack in Piedmont, Calif.
Dear Jack,
Some people who dine out often and are wine drinkers tell Prudie that when feeling expansive, they let the grand total determine the tip. (And sometimes the total can be quite grand.) Other times, when overtaken by the enough is enough gremlin, they compute the gratuity based on the food, adding a modest increment to acknowledge that wine was served. As anyone who can read a wine list knows, a bottle of wine can be très pricey, and the same effort is exerted pouring from a $14 bottle of wine as from one that costs $90.
--Prudie, penuriously
Dear Prudence,
How about all the showers at offices these days? My husband says they have two or three each week at his place of business (woman pregnant, just gave birth, going to be engaged, married, found a lover, etc.) and he has to chip in $10 for every "celebration." If he were someone who was an assistant, with an ailing mother to support, well, it would be impossible. Luckily, he is highly placed, but I mean, how does one gracefully NOT contribute?
