Two 17-year-olds in Shanghai have been ordered to pay $309,000 in damages after filming themselves urinating into a pot of broth at a Haidilao restaurant—the largest hotpot chain in China. The incident, which occurred in February, went viral after the teens posted the video online, sparking national outrage and a broader conversation about public behavior, restaurant hygiene, and personal accountability.
According to NBC News, the teenagers carried out the act in a private dining room while intoxicated. Although no customers consumed the contaminated broth, the court found that their actions significantly damaged the restaurant’s property and reputation.
Haidilao initially sought over $3 million in damages, claiming it had compensated more than 4,000 affected customers with full refunds and payouts worth 10 times their meal costs. However, the court ruled that these payments were made voluntarily by the company and were not the teens’ legal responsibility, as reported by the BBC.
Still, the Shanghai court held the teens liable for $276,000 in reputational and operational losses, $18,000 to cover the cost of cleaning and replacing tableware, and nearly $9,800 in legal fees. The court also criticized the parents for failing to adequately supervise their children and ordered them to pay the total amount.
In response to the incident, Haidilao replaced all hotpot equipment at the affected location and carried out a deep cleaning. With over 1,000 branches worldwide, the chain emphasized that its swift response was aimed at preserving its reputation for cleanliness and high-quality service.