Bar owner on trial for the death of a customer who drank 56 shots

The dead man's daughter claims the bar owner encouraged her father to continue drinking past his limit

A 56-year old man died after drinking 56 shots of spirits at the Le Starter bar in Clermont-Ferrand in October (Google Maps)

A French bar owner is standing trial for manslaughter after one of his customers died after drinking 56 shots of spirits, after he beat the bar's previous record of 55.

The 56-year old customer, named only as Renaud, was with his 22-year old daughter and some friends in the Le Starter bar in Clermont-Ferrand, in central France in October 2014, when he made his attempt to beat the record.

Renaud drank 44 shots, and according to Renaud's daughter, was then encouraged to keep going by the landlord of the bar, who whispered "only 12 to go".

He drank the remaining shots, consuming just over a litre of spirits, and had a cardiac arrest after being carried back to his home. He was rushed to hospital, but died the next day.

The man, named as Renaud, drank 56 shots, just over a litre of spirits, in a single sitting. (David Silverman/Getty Images)

The landlord of the bar today stands trial to see if he bears any responsibility for Renaud's death, after Renaud's daughter Julie decided to bring the case forward.

Previously, the record was written on a blackboard behind the bar of Le Starter.

A Facebook page calling for the closure of Le Starter, which was set up shortly after Renaud's death, posted a picture apparently taken in the bar, which has Renaud's record written on it, with the date that he consumed the fatal amount of alcohol written above.

The Facebook post shows Renaud's fatal record written on a blackboard, apparently at the Le Starter bar

Julie's lawyer, Antoine Portal, told BFM TV: "The owner served the father of my client when he was not in a fit state to understand what he was doing."

"It is not known whether he would still be alive if he had not drunk the last 12 shots, but by downing those last shots, he was left with no chance."

However, the bar owner's lawyer, Renaud Portejoie, said: "No one forced the client to take on the challenge."

Speaking to RMC radio, Portejoie said: "When you are the owner of a bar and an order has been placed, you cannot always check who is drinking what. We cannot stand behind every customer."

The interior of the bar Le Starter. The landlord went on trial for manslaughter today. (Google Maps)

"The customers are responsible for themselves as are their families and friends."

Speaking to La Montagne, Julie said: "I really feel that in the end the boss bears a real responsibility in all this."

She added: "I hope we will know the truth, and that this drama will open more people's eyes to the dangers of alcohol."