Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

French barman sentenced after man drinks 56 shots and dies

-

A French barman received a suspended jail sentence Wednesday after he was convicted of manslaughter for letting a man do 56 shots during a drinking contest that led to his death.

Renaud Prudhomme, 56, broke the in-house shots record last October at Starter, a bar in the central French town of Clermont-Ferrand.

He had spent the evening with his daughter and some friends who helped him home in his inebriated state, but they soon had to phone the emergency services.

Prudhomme, a large man weighing around 120 kilos (260 pounds), died in hospital the following day.

Barman Gilles Crepin, 47, admitted at an earlier hearing that he had made "a mistake" by displaying the shots record on a noticeboard, encouraging the victim to go too far.

He was given a four-month suspended sentence by a local court on Wednesday and banned from working in a bar for a year.

His lawyer said he would appeal the ruling.

"It's a decision guided by emotion and the unconscious desire to set an example," said Renaud Portejoie, who had called for the case to be thrown out.

Portejoie said his client bore no responsibility, adding that it was the man's daughter who had pushed him to break the record, and that he had existing respiratory and alcohol abuse problems.

"We can't ask every customer who buys alcohol to present their medical certificates," said Portejoie.

Antoine Portal, a lawyer for Prudhomme's daughter, said she was not at the bar at the time of the drinking competition.

"My client is relieved by this decision," Portal said of the ruling forbidding Crepin from working as a barman.

"We want to remind some professionals that it is illegal to serve alcohol to clients that are in an advanced state of inebriation," he added.

A French barman received a suspended jail sentence Wednesday after he was convicted of manslaughter for letting a man do 56 shots during a drinking contest that led to his death.

Renaud Prudhomme, 56, broke the in-house shots record last October at Starter, a bar in the central French town of Clermont-Ferrand.

He had spent the evening with his daughter and some friends who helped him home in his inebriated state, but they soon had to phone the emergency services.

Prudhomme, a large man weighing around 120 kilos (260 pounds), died in hospital the following day.

Barman Gilles Crepin, 47, admitted at an earlier hearing that he had made “a mistake” by displaying the shots record on a noticeboard, encouraging the victim to go too far.

He was given a four-month suspended sentence by a local court on Wednesday and banned from working in a bar for a year.

His lawyer said he would appeal the ruling.

“It’s a decision guided by emotion and the unconscious desire to set an example,” said Renaud Portejoie, who had called for the case to be thrown out.

Portejoie said his client bore no responsibility, adding that it was the man’s daughter who had pushed him to break the record, and that he had existing respiratory and alcohol abuse problems.

“We can’t ask every customer who buys alcohol to present their medical certificates,” said Portejoie.

Antoine Portal, a lawyer for Prudhomme’s daughter, said she was not at the bar at the time of the drinking competition.

“My client is relieved by this decision,” Portal said of the ruling forbidding Crepin from working as a barman.

“We want to remind some professionals that it is illegal to serve alcohol to clients that are in an advanced state of inebriation,” he added.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Business

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier was reviewing recent incidents and would redouble safety initiatives as needed - Copyright AFP Logan CyrusUnited...

World

US President Joe Biden speaks during a reception honoring Women's History Month at the White House - Copyright AFP Brendan SMIALOWSKIDanny KEMPUS President Joe...

Business

A Milei marks 100 days in office, thousands protest his austerity measures - Copyright AFP Luis ROBAYOLeila MACORArgentina’s President Javier Milei has slashed public...

Life

The Michelin Guide unveiled its annual list of the best French restaurants, praising the "cultural dynamism" of a new generation of chefs.