Last break up: Heartbroken woman dies after marathon boozing, China court orders friends to pay up for not stopping her

In a verdict from a Nanchang court in Jiangxi province, three women in southeastern China were ordered to pay substantial compensation following the tragic death of their friend during a marathon boozing session.

The court determined that the trio neglected their “reasonable obligation” to prevent their friend, known as Xiaoqiu, from consuming an excessive amount of alcohol, ultimately leading to her demise.

The incident unfolded on May 21, when Xiaoqiu, emotionally distressed by a recent breakup, attended a binge drinking session at Wang Qi’s residence. Alongside two other friends, Xu and Chen, the gathering aimed to offer support to Xiaoqiu in her time of need.

Xiaoqiu, consumed with heartbreak, ingested half a litre of the potent Chinese baijiu liquor, renowned for its high alcohol content. While Wang partook in 0.25 litres, the other two women refrained from drinking.

After the dinner, Xiaoqiu and Xu went to Xiaoqiu’s car to rest. Xu discovered her friend unresponsive when she awoke around 5 am the next day. Despite calling an ambulance promptly, doctors pronounced Xiaoqiu dead due to cardiorespiratory arrest induced by alcohol poisoning.

Prompted by Xiaoqiu’s grieving parents, the court held the three women responsible for their daughter’s demise. Wang, who failed to intervene when Xiaoqiu drank excessively and neglected to assist her during the consequential effects, is required to pay 60,000 yuan (US$8,500).

The two other women, who abstained from alcohol, were directed to each contribute 20,000 yuan, as they had a duty to ensure Xiaoqiu’s well-being after she vomited and became incapable of self-care.

This heartbreaking incident has sparked widespread discussions on social media platforms, with millions of views on Douyin.