Chinese teens ordered to pay over $300,000 after urinating in hotpot broth

A Shanghai court has directed two 17-year-olds and their parents to pay nearly 2.2 million yuan (about $309,000; £227,000) in compensation after the teenagers filmed themselves urinating into a pot of soup at a Haidilao hotpot branch earlier this year.

The February prank, carried out while the boys were drunk, went viral after they shared the video online, provoking outrage across China. Though no customer consumed the tainted broth, the country’s largest hotpot chain was forced to take extensive remedial steps.

In its ruling last Friday, the court said the act had both contaminated the restaurant’s tableware and damaged the reputation of the companies involved, amounting to "acts of insult." 

It also faulted the parents for having "failed to fulfil their duty of guardianship."

As a result, the families are required to pay 2 million yuan for reputational and operational losses, 130,000 yuan to cover tableware replacement and cleaning, and 70,000 yuan in legal fees.

Haidilao had initially pursued more than 23 million yuan in damages, pointing to the refunds and compensation it offered thousands of diners in the days following the incident. 

The court, however, held that the additional payments made to customers were a "voluntary business decision" and not the responsibility of the teenagers.

Between 24 February the date of the urination incident and 8 March, Haidilao reimbursed over 4,000 patrons in full and added cash payments equal to ten times the value of their bills. The chain also changed all hotpot equipment and conducted full disinfection of the branch.

Founded in Sichuan province, Haidilao has grown rapidly to more than 1,000 outlets worldwide. It is particularly known for its signature service culture, offering perks such as manicures for waiting customers and candy floss for children.