Two teenagers in China have been ordered to pay 2.2 million yuan ($309,000; £227,000) after urinating into a hotpot soup at a restaurant and posting the video online.
The incident took place in February at a Shanghai outlet of Haidilao, the country’s largest hotpot chain. The 17-year-olds, who were drunk at the time, recorded themselves committing the act and uploaded the clip, sparking outrage across social media.
Although no customer was reported to have eaten the contaminated broth, Haidilao quickly shut down the branch for cleaning and offered refunds plus cash compensation to more than 4,000 diners who ate there between 24 February and 8 March. The company also replaced all hotpot equipment in the restaurant.
Last Friday, a Shanghai court ruled that the boys had violated the catering companies’ property rights and damaged their reputation through what it described as “acts of insult”. The court said their behaviour caused “strong discomfort among the public” and ordered their parents to bear responsibility, citing a failure of guardianship.
According to state media, the compensation includes 2 million yuan for operational and reputational losses, 130,000 yuan for cleaning and tableware replacement, and 70,000 yuan in legal costs. The court, however, noted that any extra money Haidilao gave to customers was a “voluntary business decision” and not part of the damages.
The restaurant chain had originally demanded more than 23 million yuan in losses, arguing that its reputation and operations had been severely affected.
Haidilao, founded in Sichuan province, has grown into a global chain with over 1,000 outlets. It is known for its strong customer service culture, where diners are offered perks such as manicures and candy floss for children while waiting for a table.
