How Much Alcohol to Buy for a Party
By A Twist of Lime
A Twist of Lime is a bartending service; we're sister companies with bartendersNow™ (both are owned by the same person).
A reasonable starting estimate for how much to buy is about one drink per guest per hour. Multiply that by the number of guests who will be drinking and the hours the bar is open, add a small cushion, then convert drinks into cases and bottles. These numbers are planning estimates for shopping, not a recommendation of how much anyone should drink, and every crowd is different.
The Estimate in Four Steps
- Count the drinkers. Count your guests who will be drinking, or your full guest count if you're unsure.
- Multiply. Drinkers × hours the bar is open × about one drink per hour. In our records of about 400 past events, guests averaged close to one drink per guest per hour.
- Add a cushion. We add 10% so the bar doesn't run dry.
- Convert to what you buy. Decide roughly how the drinks split between beer, wine and spirits, then turn each share into cases and bottles using the pour sizes below.
Pour Sizes Used Here
- Beer: one 12 oz can is one drink, and a case is 24 cans.
- Wine: a 5 oz glass is one drink, so a 750 ml bottle is about 5 glasses.
- Spirits: a 2 oz pour is one mixed drink, so a 750 ml bottle is about 12 drinks.
Worked Example: 50 Guests, 4 Hours
Here is the estimate for 50 guests who will be drinking at a 4-hour party.
| Step | Math | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks at about one per guest per hour | 50 guests × 4 hours × 1 | 200 drinks |
| Add a 10% cushion | 200 × 1.1 | 220 drinks |
| Beer (40% of drinks) | 88 cans ÷ 24 per case | 4 cases |
| Wine (30% of drinks) | 66 glasses ÷ 5 per bottle | 14 bottles |
| Spirits (30% of drinks) | 66 drinks ÷ 12 per bottle | 6 bottles (750 ml) |
The 40%/30%/30% split is only an example. Change it to match what your guests actually drink. Ice, mixers and non-alcoholic drinks are not included in these numbers.
Hosting Responsibly
If you host, you are the one supplying the alcohol, so it is your responsibility to keep it away from anyone under 21 and from anyone who is visibly intoxicated. Plan for water, food and non-alcoholic options, and a safe ride home for guests who need one.
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