Two teenagers in Shanghai have been ordered by a court to pay more than $300,000 in damages after urinating into a pot of broth at a branch of China’s biggest hotpot chain, Haidilao.
Founded in Sichuan province, Haidilao has grown into a global chain with more than 1,000 restaurants. The company is known for its emphasis on customer service and atmosphere, with perks like manicures for women and candy floss for children while waiting for a table.
The incident, which happened in February, spread quickly online after the 17-year-olds posted a video of their drunken stunt. Though there was no evidence that anyone consumed the contaminated broth, the case drew widespread criticism and forced Haidilao to compensate thousands of customers and replace equipment at the restaurant.
Teens forced to pay $300,000 in damages
On September 12, a Shanghai court ruled the teenagers had infringed upon the property rights and reputation of Haidilao and a partner catering company, noting the “acts of insult” caused strong public discomfort. The court also found the parents had failed in their duty of guardianship and ordered them to bear the financial penalties.
The 2.2m yuan ($309,000) total includes 2m yuan for operational and reputational damage, 130,000 yuan for tableware losses and cleaning expenses, and 70,000 yuan in legal costs. However, the court ruled that additional compensation Haidilao gave to customers—full refunds and payments 10 times the value of their bills—was a voluntary business decision and not the teenagers’ responsibility.
Haidilao said it offered refunds to more than 4,000 diners who visited the Shanghai branch in the two weeks after the incident, while also conducting large-scale cleaning and replacing all hotpot equipment.
