Beverage Company to Pay Millions to Bartender Blinded by Exploding Bottle

The Tel Aviv District Court has ordered Tempo Beverages to pay millions of shekels to a bartender who lost sight in his left eye when a Pepsi Max bottle exploded in his hands. Judge Idit Kitzuv ruled that the product was fundamentally defective and rejected Tempo's claims that the employee was responsible for the accident.

The incident occurred while the bartender was stocking refrigerators at a meat restaurant. As he lifted a case of drinks from the floor, one bottle suddenly exploded, and a glass shard penetrated his left eye. Despite complex surgeries, the employee suffered complete blindness in the eye.

Tempo Beverages had argued that the case was slammed onto a counter, causing the bottle to break. However, Judge Kitzuv dismissed this, citing security camera footage that showed the employee lifting the case normally and with reasonable care. "A bottle that explodes under normal use is a completely defective product," the judge stated, adding that a glass bottle should not explode during a routine lift and that this indicated a clear manufacturing defect.

The lawsuit was filed against Tempo, the restaurant, and the glass manufacturer. The court dismissed the claims against the restaurant and the glass manufacturer, placing full responsibility on Tempo as the beverage producer. The employee also suffered significant psychological trauma, impacting his daily functioning and overall quality of life.

This ruling aligns with a trend of courts holding manufacturers liable for product defects. The judge noted several recent incidents involving beverage bottles and stated that courts are increasingly strict with companies whose products cause severe injuries. Tempo Beverages had not responded to the ruling by the time of publication, and it remains unclear if they will appeal to the Supreme Court.