I have noticed a strange phenomenon in Europe too, please forgive me if I'm generalising as I'm aware it's a big place, but people there seem like they won't do something without getting paid.
Example: delivery personnel who would deliver a refrigerator up to your door (but not further, into the kitchen) and a plumber who refused to even discuss what the options were for a problem we were having that was not what he had been called in for.
That doesn't happen here. Instead, the delivery guy usually helps you unpack the item of delivery, and the plumber will offer his opinion on a job he was not necessarily called in to fix.
Once again, standard disclaimer, this is anecdata, apologies for the generalisation.
And how much are you expected to tip these people?
That's a myth, they can charge whatever they want for it.
> They also have to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink that's cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink
That is actually true.
http://www.swr.de/marktcheck/restaurant-irrtuemer-top3/-/id=...
Ofc I would expect it to vary by country. In general though everywhere here will try and sell you bottled water but give you tap water on request.
Edit: God dammit i need to refresh tabs before I reply.