Mon Jun 16, 3:50 AM ET

A vineyard in New Zealand's South Island. A restaurant in New Zealand's tourist hub of Queenstown was convicted Monday for accidentally serving dishwashing liquid as mulled wine

(AFP/File)

New Zealand restaurant in trouble for poisoning drinkers

Mon Jun 16, 3:50 AM ET  

A restaurant in New Zealand's tourist hub of Queenstown was convicted Monday for accidentally serving dishwashing liquid as mulled wine.

A customer and a barmaid were hospitalised after drinking the liquid in July last year.

The barmaid may suffer health problems after the inside of her throat was scarred by the liquid containing sodium hydroxide, the court was told.

The court ordered the restaurant pay 1,000 dollars (750 US) to both women for emotional harm caused by the poisoning.

The customer had asked the barmaid for a sample of mulled wine, but spat it out immediately after feeling her lips and mouth burn.

Then the barmaid tried some, suffering scarring to her throat after swallowing some of the detergent.

A worker at the restaurant had filled an empty mulled wine container with detergent -- which was the same colour -- leading to the accident, the court was told.

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