When it comes to gratuities, Melburnians follow their own conventions, writes Daniella Miletic.

From behind the bar at American restaurant chain TGI Friday's in Dublin, Dave Whitehead watched how US cultural imperialism helped fill up the tip jar.

At Friday's, tips averaged about 10 per cent of the bill, with most diners imitating US tippers, even though wages for hospitality staff in Ireland were generally much better.

Whitehead, who now manages the bar at Polly in Brunswick Street, says it was refreshing to notice that Melburnians had largely resisted that kind of tipping culture here.

A tip is always nice, says Whitehead, but he'd much prefer a return visit to the bar as a demonstration of appreciation for good service.

Whitehead, like many Australians, believes that wages for hospitality staff in Australia are much better than they are in the US, and therefore tipping here should be an individual choice. He says there should be no expectation of one - either from consumers or from waiters. ''If someone really wants to tip a waiter, they can, but it's entirely up to them how much they want to,'' he says.

''I think this whole, 10 per cent, 15 per cent, all the rules about it … it's strictly for the bean counters. It doesn't have to be like that.''

A new study has revealed that Whitehead is not alone in his thinking. According to the survey, by McCrindle Research, a group that tracks generational trends, more than 80 per cent of people believe that tipping is unnecessary in Australia. Many believe the practice is a distinctly American phenomenon.

A common response in the survey of 532 people across the country involved people stating they did not believe in tipping because costs for staff and services here were already built into the prices we pay. There is a strong resistance among consumers to set rules and expectations about tipping.

''Most Australians saw it as an import, something you'd see in the US or Europe, but not part of the Aussie approach to life,'' report author and social researcher Mark McCrindle says of the national attitude towards tipping.

''Australians didn't want to see tipping become entrenched as almost a service charge but rather reserved for exceptional service. Especially when someone goes above and beyond.''

The survey revealed that for many, tipping simply meant telling staff to keep the change. When a tip is given, it showed most Australians were likely to part with less than $10 - mainly spare change and rounding the bill.

One in five respondents said they tipped regularly and only 6 per cent said they would part with between $10 and $50 in a tip. Two thirds of respondents said they tipped very rarely or not at all.

Whitehead says an average tip at a bar is between $2 and $3. On a $50 round of drinks, he says people might leave a gold coin behind. Of course it's much higher at restaurants. ''If you are buying a drink, every now again if a drink costs $8.50, you'll leave $10,'' says restaurateur Matteo Pignatelli, who has worked with food for more than 25 years. ''But in a restaurant situation, certainly here the waiters make pretty good tips.''

On average, Pignatelli says waiters in this city make between 5 and 10 per cent of the bill or more. He says 85 to 90 per cent of customers tip. ''In a lot of the better restaurants, that's exactly what's happening as well,'' he says. ''Australians are generally appreciative of good service, and they reward good service.''

When tipping, consumers are more likely to tip waiters at cafes and restaurants (83.1 per cent, according to the survey) than elsewhere. And they are three times more likely to tip staff when dining than they are to tip the bar staff (26.9 per cent). In Australia, concierge staff (19.4 per cent) and door staff (9 per cent) are the least likely to receive a tip.

Generation Y - people often defined as being born between 1980 and 1994 - were the most likely tippers. According to the report, they were almost twice as likely to tip than baby boomers. The main factors that influence the amount Australians tip related to the quality of service and only 2.8 per cent of respondents cared about what other people might think of them.

''I was surprised that there is such an entrenched push against [tipping],'' McCrindle says. ''A lot of things in society tend to flow across different cultures and countries, and things that take off in the US eventually come here. But here is something that Australians are very firm on, not wanting it to become mainstream.''