Sad if this is no longer the case.
In the UK at least (and the rest of Europe too, as far as I can tell), this is still very much the case. The curve varies with the individuals tipping. I would be quite happy to give 20% if the service was outstanding. I’m equally happy to not tip at all if the service was very poor.
Honestly, this seems good overall; there's no more sense in having low-paid waitstaff hanging around hoping to get a customer table that will tip than in having a restaurant owner keep the restaurant open while paying the staff a reasonable hourly wage.
I can confirm in Italy almost no one will even accept a tip. (Taxi drivers, wait-staff, hotel staff)
Yes, that is the basic tip if you expect to come back to that restaurant and get an upgraded welcome.
But even with no tip, being a regular counts - tip or no tip, you are good business and worth cultivating.
Except for the very pervasive 12.5% "discretionary" service charge the you would have to request to be removed. Which is a genius piece of social engineering.