Drinks Per Person Guide
Running out of drinks is every host's nightmare, but over-buying wastes money. This guide gives you tested per-person quantities for every common drink type, scaled by event length. Use these figures as your starting point, then adjust for your crowd — a group of wine lovers will drink differently to a mixed-age family gathering.
Drinks Per Person by Event Length
| Drink Type | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | 4 Hours | 5 Hours | 6 Hours | 8 Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wine (175 ml glasses) | 2–3 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 4–6 | 5–7 | 6–8 |
| Beer / lager (330 ml bottles) | 2–3 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 5–6 | 6–7 | 7–10 |
| Spirits (25 ml measures) | 2–3 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 4–5 | 4–6 | 5–7 |
| Champagne / prosecco (125 ml flutes) | 2–3 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 4–5 | 4–6 | 5–7 |
| Soft drinks (200 ml servings) | 2–3 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 5–6 | 6–7 | 7–9 |
Figures assume adult drinkers at a typical social event. First hour tends to have higher consumption, then it tapers off. Always provide water as well.
Bottles & Servings Quick Reference
| Drink | Bottle / Pack Size | Servings per Bottle | Bottles per 10 Guests (4 hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/white wine | 750 ml | 4–5 glasses (175 ml) | 8–12 bottles |
| Champagne / prosecco | 750 ml | 6 flutes (125 ml) | 5–8 bottles |
| Beer / lager (bottles) | 330 ml | 1 per bottle | 40–50 bottles |
| Beer / lager (cans) | 440 ml | 1 per can | 30–40 cans |
| Spirits (gin, vodka, rum, etc.) | 700 ml | 28 measures (25 ml) | 1–2 bottles |
| Mixer (tonic, cola, etc.) | 1 litre | 5–6 servings | 4–6 bottles |
| Soft drinks / juice | 2 litres | 10 glasses (200 ml) | 4–5 bottles |
Planning Tips
A good rule of thumb is that roughly 30% of guests will drink wine, 30% beer, 20% spirits, and 20% soft drinks only. Adjust these ratios based on what you know about your guests. Always provide plenty of water — one glass of water per alcoholic drink is ideal.
For a toast (wedding, New Year), allow 1 glass of champagne per person (one 750 ml bottle covers 6 flutes). Ice: plan for roughly 0.5 kg per person for a 4–5 hour event.
Calculate Your Exact Quantities
Use our drinks calculators for a personalised shopping list:
- Drinks & Bar Calculators — calculate exact bottles needed based on guest count, event length, and drink preferences
These are guidelines for typical adult social events. Actual consumption varies enormously based on the occasion, time of day, weather, and your guests' drinking habits. Please encourage responsible drinking and ensure non-alcoholic options are always available.