And places with enforcement of minumum wages and no tips don't always have higher prices for food.
A very real alternative to your proposal is that market pressure could force prices down and eat into owner's profit. Market forces seem to be what controls the prices most places you can get food with and without tips.
This is just a one-way ratchet on employment costs, not a plausible way to eliminate tipping.
Of course they can: increase prices accordingly (I'm not commenting on what a reasonable wage for serving is, just that tipping is a bad way to get to that wage).
It's not like customers don't have to consider the cost of the mandatory tipping bullshit when you consider where to eat and whether you can afford it in any case.
Definitely not visiting that spot ever again.
Sounds like there's already a cap on it.
tax brackets are rediscovered
One of the presidential candidates gave a speech recently with a back drop that said “no taxes on tips” or something.
That did nothing for me in terms of thinking meals would be cheaper. I assume they’re marketing the idea to restaurant workers directly rather than patrons.