Beijing, May 5 (IANS): The organisers of an alcohol drinking contest in central China's Henan province on Tuesday were ordered to pay compensation of over $70,000 after one participant died due to excessive alcohol intake, Xinhua news agency reported.

Wang Qiang took part in the contest in Luoyang city in July with a friend. Both men reportedly said they "felt weird" after the competitive binge-drinking session.

The other man regained consciousness after medical attention, however, Wang was not so lucky. The cause of death was attributed to alcohol poisoning.

Wang's family filed a lawsuit against the organisers of the event -- the Henan Alcohol Association, the Henan Alcohol Association Luoyang Office and Luoyang Siyue Trade Co. Ltd. -- for their active role in Wang's death.

The Laocheng district court of Luoyang ruled that the organisers should pay 447,642.36 yuan to the family.

The defendants did not say whether they would appeal.