A shocking incident at a popular Haidilao hotpot restaurant in Shanghai has led to a massive court-ordered compensation of 2.2 million yuan (2.71 crore). The ruling came after two drunk 17-year-olds filmed themselves urinating into a pot of boiling broth and posted the video online, sparking outrage across China.
The Incident
The incident took place on February 24, 2025, in a private dining room. The intoxicated teens, identified only by their surnames Wu and Tang, climbed onto a table and deliberately contaminated the soup base, a key element of the Chinese hotpot dining experience.
Although there was no evidence that diners consumed the tainted broth, the restaurant quickly responded. Haidilao offered full refunds and 10 times the meal cost as cash compensation to more than 4,000 customers who had visited the branch between February 24 and March 8. The restaurant also replaced all utensils, disinfected the premises, and destroyed contaminated tableware.
The Court Ruling
Haidilao sought over 23 million yuan in damages, but the Shanghai court awarded 2.2 million yuan instead. The court stated that the teens' actions violated the companies' property rights and reputation by contaminating food and tableware, and by committing "insulting acts" that caused public discomfort.
The breakdown of compensation includes:
2 million yuan for operational and reputational losses
130,000 yuan for tableware replacement and cleaning
70,000 yuan in legal fees
The court also ruled that Haidilao's decision to give customers additional compensation, beyond the billed amount, was a voluntary business decision and would not be covered by the teens' families.
Parents Held Responsible
The court emphasized that the teenagers' parents had failed in their duty of guardianship. They were ordered to pay the compensation and to publish formal apologies in designated newspapers to the catering companies involved.
