Teen spends $54,000 at bars; judge blames the bars, American Express

1/6

Looking for a wine to go with shellfish? Or a bottle to help you celebrate something special? Wine critic S. Irene Virbila shares her favorite white wine picks -- plus pairing notes. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

2/6

Crisp and refreshing, mineral-driven and with the characteristic aromas of green apple and white pepper. Drink this terrific summer white with chilled shellfish, smoked trout, lobster and crab. Seafood pasta and risotto too. It’s also a great match with Thai or Indian food. Price: $22 to $29 (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

3/6

What I love about this Napa Valley white is the crisp minerality, beautiful acidity and laser focus, not to mention the flavors of lychee and white peach and its fresh clean finish. Great with sushi, chilled shellfish platters, oysters and cheese. Price: About $28 to 35 (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

4/6

Crisp and floral, this Italian white is also richly fruity. But that’s balanced with a tart acidity and a bit of minerality. Pair it with peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, seafood pasta and risotto, lobster and crab. Price: About $16-$19 (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

5/6

This California Chardonnay is lean and focused, yet complex and long in the finish. This is a terrific entry-level Chardonnay at a great price for the quality. Pair it with scallops, spot prawns, smoked trout. Price: $25 to $31. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

6/6

This French wine is scented with flowers and peaches, crisp with ripe fruit and a thrilling complexity. Pair it with Tarte flambe, seafood salad, poached salmon, and even Asian and fusion cuisines. Price: About $22 (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

By Jenn Harris

May 29, 2013 10:14 AM PT

A 16-year-old went on quite the joy ride after snagging his dad’s credit card and racking up a $54,000 bar tab during a one-night club binge in Japan.

The teenager and a friend made the rounds at some hostess clubs, where he paid to sit and drink with women working there. The teen ordered whiskey and Champagne. At one of the venues, he spent a couple thousand dollars on a single bottle of wine, the Examiner reports.

The best part? The bars and the credit card company, American Express, got stuck with the bill.

The teenager’s dad pleaded with the Kyoto District Court, which ruled he would have to pay only a small portion of the tab.

The hostess clubs the teenager visited were for adults only; therefore, the judge ruled, the bars were responsible, WebProNews reported.

The judge also ruled American Express should have flagged the charges, so the company also was partly responsible.

The dad walked away with an 800,000 yen bill, which translates to $7,832, MSN news reported. But the entire ordeal left us wondering: What’s the appropriate grounding period for stealing your dad’s credit card and spending $54,000 on a bar spree?

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