Taipei: The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has indicted the owner and the manager of a Taipei nightclub on charges of negligent homicide following the death of a man from acute alcohol intoxication during a drinking contest last year.

According to Focus Taiwan, the indictment names the club owner, Tseng, and the manager, Chen, in connection with the death of an engineer, Chang, who participated in a drinking event at the nightclub inside the ATT 4 Fun building in Xinyi District. The tragic incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on September 8, 2024.

Prosecutors report that Chang consumed a one-liter vodka and passion fruit cocktail, known as "One Liter of Tears," in just one minute and 10 seconds during the contest. After participating, he felt unwell and left the event, later being found dead by a security guard in a restroom in the building's second basement parking area around 7 a.m.

The prosecutors allege that Tseng and Chen organized the promotion, which incentivized participants to finish the drink within eight minutes to reclaim a NT$500 (US$16.64) deposit. They highlighted that the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act prohibits alcohol advertising or promotions that encourage drinking, and the Regulations Governing the Labeling of Alcohol Products necessitate warnings about the dangers of consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short period.

Prosecutors accuse Tseng and Chen of being aware of the dangers of short-term heavy drinking, yet proceeding with the contest to profit financially. They assert that the duo had a responsibility to caution participants about the risks of excessive drinking, display appropriate warning signs, and implement emergency measures, but failed to do so, leading to Chang's death.