Five dining friends were brought to court after urging a friend to drink more during a banquet, leading to his death, in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Zhang, 61, died of alcohol poisoning after a banquet last month.

Zhang's son said his father's dining friends should take responsibility for father's death and pay compensation.

Zhengzhou Guancheng District People's Court accepted the case and is arranging a public hearing.

(China Daily January 12, 2009)