Party Drinks Calculator — How Much to Buy

The simplest guideline is 1 drink per person per hour for adults. A more detailed catering formula allows 2 drinks in the first hour (when people arrive thirsty) then 1 per hour after. For a 4-hour party this works out to about 1.25 drinks per person per hour on average. Adjust down for daytime events and up for lively evening parties.

Typically 60-80% of adult guests will drink alcohol at a party. This varies by event type — work events tend to have lower alcohol consumption (50-60%) while evening celebrations are higher (70-80%). Always provide good non-alcoholic options.

A standard split is roughly 40% wine, 35% beer, and 25% spirits. For formal events, increase wine to 50%. For casual parties and BBQs, increase beer to 50%. Know your audience — some groups prefer wine while others prefer beer.

A standard 75cl bottle of wine pours approximately 6 glasses at 125ml each. For larger 175ml pours (common at casual parties), a bottle gives about 4 glasses. Always round up when calculating.

Plan for about 400ml per non-drinker per hour, which is roughly 2 soft drinks per hour. Include a variety of options: sparkling water, still water, fruit juice, cola, and lemonade. Non-drinkers consume more soft drinks than drinkers do.