That seems excessive. We could start by raising the minimum wage to a living wage and eliminating the special rules for tipped employees ($2.13/hour wage, etc.).
If customers know the workers get paid decently, they probably wouldn't feel obliged to leave a tip. And business owners might switch to a no-tip policy since a better customer experience could attract more customers.
I've never understood the reasoning behind this carve out. Tips are supposed to be in addition to the worker's wage to show appreciation for good service. Not a replacement for their wages. This has made tipping from a nice thing to do to a necessity if you receive service. You are essentially paying the restaurant's payroll. It's insanity!
If customers know the workers get paid decently, they probably wouldn't feel obliged to leave a tip. And business owners might switch to a no-tip policy since a better customer experience could attract more customers.