On December 22, a high-profile case involving two 17-year-olds urinating into a hotpot at Haidilao and sharing the video online was concluded by the Huangpu District People's Court in Shanghai. The court ruled that the minors and their guardians must publicly apologize to Haidilao and compensate the company 2.2 million yuan for economic losses.
The incident occurred in the early hours of February 23, 2025, when the teenagers, surnamed Tang and Wu, were dining at a Haidilao outlet in Shanghai. After losing a drinking game, Tang stood on the table and urinated into the boiling hotpot while Wu recorded the act. The video was later shared on social media, sparking public outrage and damaging Haidilao's reputation.
Haidilao's parent company, Sichuan Xin Catering Management Group, took immediate action by reporting the incident to the police, removing the video from platforms, and offering full refunds plus tenfold compensation to affected customers. The company later sued for damages totaling over 23 million yuan.
The court recognized the deliberate nature of the act and its severe impact on Haidilao's brand. It awarded 130,000 yuan for utensil replacement and cleaning, 2 million yuan for operational and reputational losses, and 70,000 yuan for legal expenses. The compensation is to be paid by the guardians, though the minors themselves must also apologize.
Legal experts praised the ruling for balancing commercial realities with legal principles, noting its significance in protecting corporate reputation while educating young offenders. The judgment has taken effect as neither party appealed.
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