Beverage Quantities for Guests
For a party of 50 guests, plan for:
- Beers: 12 to 13 dozen
- Mixers: 9 dozen
- Wine: 20 bottles
- Orange and Lime Cordial: 2 bottles each
- Bitters, Fruit Juices, and Italian Sodas
Setting Up Your Drink Bar
Bar Planning and Arrangement
Decide on cocktails, estimate guests, determine liquor and mixers needed per drink. A 750 mL bottle yields about 16 drinks.
Bar Layout
- Liquors and wines
- Water and juices
- Bar tools and glasses
- Napkins and ice
First Steps in Bar Setup
- Designate event staff
- Choose spirits and Italian sodas
Stocking Your Bar
For a balanced bar, aim for a mixture of liquor, beer, and wine:
- Full bar: 33% each of liquor, beer, and wine
- Beer and wine only: 70% beer and 30% wine
For 50 guests over 4 hours, expect 200 drinks:
- 80 beers
- 72 wine glasses (15 bottles)
- 48 cocktails (or 120 if no wine)
Alcohol Selection for Parties
Essential spirits include vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, and tequila. Provide beer as a mainstay with wine as an alternative option.
Calculating Drinks Per Person
After the first hour where guests average two drinks, allow one drink per guest per hour:
- Beer: 12 oz every half hour to an hour
- Cocktails: 1.5 oz of liquor each
Bar Setup for Outdoor Parties
To set up a bar for an outdoor party, use a linen cloth anchored with weights to keep bugs at bay.
Bartender Requirements
For an efficient service:
- Beer and wine reception: 1 bartender per 75 guests
- Full bar or formal event: 1 bartender per 50 guests
The 50% Rule
Do not serve another drink to a customer until their current drink is at least half empty.