Two teenagers who peed into a pot of broth at a hotpot restaurant have been ordered to pay 2.2 million yuan ($309,000; £227,000) to two catering companies in China.
The incident, which happened in February at a Shanghai branch of China's biggest hotpot chain Haidilao, sparked widespread criticism after the 17-year-olds posted a video of their drunken act online.
There is no suggestion that anyone consumed the contaminated broth, but Haidilao had offered to pay thousands of diners who dined at the restaurant in the days following the incident.
In March, Haidilao sought more than 23 million yuan in losses, stating that this figure accounts for the compensation given to customers due to the incident.
Last Friday, a Shanghai court concluded that the teenagers had infringed upon the companies' property rights and damaged their reputation through these acts of insult, highlighting the contamination of tableware and the discomfort caused among the public.
The ruling also noted that the teens' parents had failed to fulfil their duty of guardianship and were thus obligated to pay the compensation. This includes 2 million yuan for operational and reputational damage, as well as additional payments for tableware losses and legal costs.
However, the court remarked that any further compensation offered by Haidilao beyond the initial bill was a voluntary business decision and should not be the responsibility of the teenagers.
Haidilao had promised to reimburse over 4,000 customers who visited the restaurant during the two-week period following the event, offering full refunds and additional cash compensation equivalent to ten times their bill.
Following the event, Haidilao replaced all hotpot equipment and undertook thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Established in Sichuan, Haidilao is renowned for its customer service and welcoming atmosphere, with amenities like manicures for ladies and candy floss for children while they wait for their tables.
