Tipped employee treatment.

[buckeye44]

I am a 20 year old full time student and server at a busy sports bar. On occasion I will have a table leave without paying or "dine and dash." As a result, I am required to pay for their entire tab out of my tips for that evening. I understand the rationale is that I should be watching my tables closely, but it is unreasonable and rude to expect me to never leave their side. We have even had people leave on upwards of 100-150 dollar tabs. Store clerks are not required to pay for shoplifted items, so how is it legal to make me to pay for my customer's delinquence? Shouldnt the restaurant claim it as waste or "shrinkage" and write it off on taxes instead? Also, is it legal for me to still pay the bill if there is alcohol on the tab and I am not 21?