A restaurant was held partly responsible for the death of a guest who died after drinking to a toast proposed by a waitress, reports Information Times.

Jia, a college instructor, and three friends dined at a restaurant on Huangshi Road in the Baiyun District on June 13, 2001.

After consuming almost six bottles of liquor, they asked for the bill.

Following restaurant custom, a waitress surnamed Lin divided the remaining liquor into several cups and suggested they drink a toast with her.

Jia collapsed after draining his cup amid the others' applause and his head hit the floor. He later died after spending about half a month in hospital.

Jia's family demanded the restaurant pay 160,000 yuan (US$19,200) in compensation, which was halved in the verdict issued by the Baiyun District People's Court.

While Jia drank of his own free will, the waitress should have known better than to suggest a toast to already-drunk guests, the judge said.

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