For some time now, it’s not uncommon for people to feel awkward when it’s time to leave a tip at a restaurant. If it’s not the options that start at 18% of the invoice amount, it’s the terminal that requires you to give a tipbefore tapping the device with your card or phone. This issue is causing reactions in the province and the Quebec government has decided to regulate this practice.
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On November 7, 2024, Bill No. 72 was officially adopted unanimously. This law mainly aims to protect “consumers against abusive commercial practices and providing better transparency in terms of prices and credit”.
It therefore plans new measures to “simplify the lives of Quebecers in their daily lives, whether at the restaurant, at the gas station, at their financial institution, at the grocery store or even at the dealership”, depending on what mentioned the minister responsible for consumer protection, Simon Jolin-Barrette.
Regarding changes to tipping in restaurants, tipping suggestions must now be calculated on the amount before taxes and must be presented in a neutral and uniform manner. No more choices like 15% (good), 18% (very good), 20% (great), 30% (great).
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“The consumer must always have the possibility of easily choosing the amount themselves,” we add. This new regulation will come into force in six months, around May 2025.
Bill No. 72 is officially adopted in Quebec.Consumer Protection Office
Among the other practices that will be modified, we also include prices at the grocery store which will have to be clearer. For example, the unit price, the price per unit of measurement, the list price as well as the “non-member” price must be visible and obvious at all times.
