2 Chinese Teens Fined $300,000 for Urinating in Soup
Two teenagers in Shanghai have been ordered by a court to pay 2.2 million yuan ($309,000; £227,000) in compensation after contaminating a pot of broth at a branch of Haidilao, China’s largest hotpot chain.
The incident occurred in February when the 17-year-olds, reportedly intoxicated, filmed themselves urinating into the broth and posted the video online. While there was no evidence that diners consumed the contaminated food, the video quickly went viral, sparking outrage across China.
In the aftermath, Haidilao launched a large-scale compensation campaign, offering full refunds and cash payouts worth 10 times the bill to more than 4,000 diners who ate at the restaurant between February 24 and March 8. The company also replaced all hotpot equipment and carried out extensive disinfection to restore public trust.
Haidilao initially sought more than 23 million yuan in damages. However, on Friday, the Shanghai court ruled that the teenagers and their parents were liable for 2.2 million yuan. This sum covered operational and reputational damage (2m yuan), tableware and cleaning costs (130,000 yuan), and legal expenses (70,000 yuan).
The court held that the teens had infringed upon the company’s property rights and reputation through “acts of insult,” and stressed that their parents had failed in their duty of guardianship. Importantly, it also clarified that Haidilao’s decision to provide extra compensation to diners was a voluntary business decision, and not something the teenagers were obligated to cover.
This case falls under the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Article 40, which emphasizes that children in conflict with the law must be treated in a manner consistent with their dignity, age, and potential for reintegration into society.
While accountability is necessary, the law stresses rehabilitation, guidance, and the role of parents and guardians in ensuring that young offenders are redirected toward positive development rather than stigmatized for life.
