Shanghai court orders teens to pay 2.2 million yuan after hotpot urination video
Court finds two 17-year-olds infringed property rights and reputations but says Haidilao’s extra customer payouts were voluntary
A Shanghai court has ordered two teenagers to pay 2.2 million yuan (about $309,000; £227,000) after they were filmed urinating into a pot of broth at a Haidilao hotpot restaurant, state media reported Friday.
The incident occurred in February at a Shanghai branch of Haidilao, China's largest hotpot chain, when two 17-year-olds posted a video of their drunken act online. There is no suggestion that any diners consumed the contaminated broth.
In its ruling, the court found the teenagers' conduct infringed upon the catering companies' property rights and reputation through "acts of insult," saying their actions contaminated tableware and "caused strong discomfort among the public." The court also determined that the teens' parents had "failed to fulfil their duty of guardianship" and ordered them to bear the compensation.
The 2.2 million yuan award to two catering companies included 2 million yuan for operational and reputational damage, 130,000 yuan to one of the caterers for tableware losses and cleaning expenses, and 70,000 yuan in legal costs, according to state reports. Haidilao had sought more than 23 million yuan in losses in March, a claim that incorporated the company’s broader expenses after the episode, including compensation and remedial work.
Haidilao offered to compensate more than 4,000 diners who visited the affected branch between Feb. 24 and March 8, giving full refunds and cash payments equal to 10 times the billed amount for those customers. The chain also said it replaced all hotpot equipment and conducted extensive cleaning and disinfection. The court ruled that any additional compensation Haidilao provided beyond what customers were billed was a "voluntary business decision" and not the teens' responsibility.
The ruling comes amid heightened public scrutiny over behaviour in restaurants and the reputational consequences for businesses in China when incidents are widely shared online. The video of the incident attracted widespread criticism on social media platforms and drew immediate attention to Haidilao’s response.
Haidilao, founded in Jianyang in Sichuan province, has expanded rapidly since its founding and now operates more than 1,000 restaurants worldwide. The chain built its brand on extensive customer service offerings and a family-friendly atmosphere; some outlets are known for amenities such as manicures for waiting diners and complimentary sweets for children.
The court decision highlights legal accountability for actions that courts deem to damage property and public reputation, and it underscores the limitations of assigning corporate discretionary remedial measures to individual perpetrators. Authorities and the restaurant operator have said the contaminated items were removed and no evidence suggested patrons were exposed to the contaminated broth.
No further legal penalties for the teenagers beyond the civil compensation were reported by state media. The case illustrates both the rapid amplification of incidents via social media and the potential civil liabilities young people and their guardians may face in the wake of viral misconduct.