Angelique and Jean-Sebastian Fraisse were accused of failing to prevent a crime, and of being partly responsible for the deaths.

After a dinner party at the couples home, one of their guests, Frederic Colin, crashed on the wrong side of a motorway, killing himself and a family of four.

The case has divided France, where drink driving is becoming socially unacceptable after a lengthy government campaign.

Do you agree with the verdict? Would you stop your friends drink driving? If so, how would you go to intervene? Do you think the blame culture has gone too far?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

It was his own foolishness which resulted in the loss of life Chas Knight, Duxford, UK

You're kidding, right? If a man gets in his car drunk, only he is responsible for that. These poor people did their best to prevent their friend from driving, in the end it was his own foolishness which resulted in the loss of life. To put this couple through the mill like this is a national disgrace on France.
Chas Knight, Duxford, UK

Why stop at the couple? Surely the off licence shares some of the blame as does the car dealership who provided him with his car. For that matter jail his mother...if she hadn't given birth to him this would never have happened. Perhaps the driving examiner who awarded him a licence should be punished... he clearly allowed an unsafe motorist to take to the road. All this shows is that if you allow gross stupidity into the courts there's no end to it.
Peter, Nottingham U.K

It would set a quite ridiculous precedent were we all had to police each other's behaviour Graham Jarvis, UK

No one should be held responsible for the actions of another adult. It's absurd, and it would set a quite ridiculous precedent were we all had to police each other's behaviour.
Graham Jarvis, UK

Drink driving will always remain a big no-no but people can not be held responsible for others actions. Advise can be given and alternatives offered but with what can be done if the guilty party says no, you can't force the person (in this example) to hand over their car keys, you can't use force and with the social implications it is difficult to do anything to help.
Ryan, Cardiff, Wales

I agree 100% with the verdict. The blame should end with the man behind the wheel. This idea of far reaching to every person involved is a result of a lawsuit society where going after the deepest pockets is the most important thing, especially for the lawyers. There is no shame in going after them if they were involved, but for failing to prevent a crime is nonsense. Honestly, I think bars in the US shouldn't be responsible for what their patrons do the moment they step out the door. You are only one person and you are only responsible for yourself, not others. As for intervention, a good smack on the face with closed fist should do the trick.
Aaron, NY, USA

the right verdict. people need to be responsible for their own actions and not try and blame others. the fact it even got to court is disturbing enough. I hope the accuser will have to pay all costs.
Ian, UK

Letting someone who is clearly intoxicated get into a car on the driver's side is witnessing a criminal act Ed, London UK

You shouldn't be criminally liable but you still have a social responsibility to ensure that if your guests are going to drink, they either stay at yours or get a cab home. On the other hand, letting someone who is clearly intoxicated get into a car on the driver's side is witnessing a criminal act and therefore you would become liable
Ed, London UK

Since the hosts did not force him to either drink or drive, I don't see how they can be responsible. He did both of his own free will.
Bill, Lanarkshire

What next? Failing to prevent someone from stealing, because they came to you in desperation for a loan? Or, failing to prevent someone from over eating? I find it astonishing that this pathetic case even got to the courtroom.
Alfie Noakes, North of England, UK

I don't think anybody wants their friends to be drink-driving but what can you do to stop them, short of locking them up, which is also illegal? It was a terrible tragedy but I don't think that couple were to blame
Elaine, London, UK

The incident was the fault of the driver and the driver only Kevin Miller, Warrington, Cheshire, UK

I heard about this case a couple of weeks ago on Radio 2 and from what I heard, the couple did all that was reasonable to stop this man from driving. Including hiding his car keys and locking him in a room. The incident was the fault of the driver and the driver only. When will people start taking responsibility for there own actions?
Kevin Miller, Warrington, Cheshire

Thank goodness for common sense, people must take responsibility for their own actions.
Gerry, Scotland

How can you be responsible if you can only warn people if they are over the limit? With the current legal system, removing their car keys or trying to stop them physically could result in legal actions claiming assault or theft.
Caron, England

These people are innocent. An individual is responsible for his or her actions. If they are found guilty so are every bar tender and off licence in France.
James Clarke, UK

Yet again another example of people not having responsibility for their own actions. They shouldn't have been taken to court in the first place! Why isn't it the fault of the person that got drunk then drove, why, why?
Chris, Plymouth UK