If your event or wedding is coming up, you might be wondering how much alcohol you need for your bar. How much much will your guests drink? How much beer do you need to buy?.
On average we estimate most people have four drinks throughout the evening with the exception of children. This typically breaks down to one glass of wine, one beer and two spirit drinks (1 ounce each). At the end of the day, you know your crowd the best. Maybe the majority of your guests don’t drink alcohol so you wont need as much. Alternatively, maybe your crowd are beer drinkers. So in that case you will need a purchase a higher quantity of beer to ensure you don’t run out.
We have put together this handy calculator to roughly average out what you may want to purchase for your bar. It’s always better to have too much, than not enough. When you purchase your alcohol license from SLGA, they can help you with putting your liquor plan together to ensure you are buying enough for your event. Our calculator can help get you started! In Saskatchewan permit holders can return unopened spirit and wine bottles and sealed beer and cooler cases for a full refund at the location where originally purchased. Product packaging cannot be damaged and the original receipt is required.
Get all the info you need in regards to operating your bar at your event here!
Alcohol Purchase Calculations
Wine
______# of guests X 1 glass of wine each = _______
EX: 150 guests X 1 glass of wine each = _150_ glasses of wine
A 750ml bottle of wine provides five drinks.
______# of glasses /5 glasses per 750ml bottle =________
EX: 150 glasses /5 glasses per 750ml bottle =_30 bottles of wine
Suggestions:
-Generally purchase 50% white wine, 40% red wine, 10% blush
Beer
______# of guests X 1 bottle of beer each = _______
EX: 150 guests X 1 bottle of beer each = _150 bottles of beer
A case of beer contains 12 or 24 beers (based on cases of 12).
______# of bottles /12 in a case of beer = ________
EX: 150 bottles /12 in a case of beer = _12.5 or 13 cases of beer_
Suggestions:
-Generally purchase 3-4 types of beer, with 10% being a light beer.
EX: 4 cases of Molson Canadian, 3 cases of Pilsner, 3 cases of Rickard’s Red, 2 cases of Coors Light
Spirits
______# of guests X 2 glasses of spirits each = _______
EX: 150 guests X 2 glasses of spirits each = _300_glasses of spirits
A 750ml bottle of spirits provides 17 drinks (one ounce per drink).
______# of glasses /17 glasses per 750ml bottle =________
EX: 300 glasses /17 glasses per 750ml bottle =_17.64 or 18 bottles of spirits
Suggestions:
– The most common spirits to serve at a function are Rye, Vodka and Rum and to a lesser extent Scotch, Gin and Tequila.
EX: 5-750ml Bottles Vodka, 4-750ml Bottles Rye, 5-750ml Bottles Rum, 2 750ml Bottles Gin,
1- 750ml Bottle Tequila, 1- 750ml Bottle Scotch
Notes: The amount and type of alcohol you will require depends on your guests. For example, if your guests are beer drinkers, you may want to allow for two beers per person and only one mixed spirit drink.
Mix Purchase Calculations
A 2 liter of pop is 64 oz, which approx serves 8 – 8oz glasses. Most people will drink two mixed spirit drinks (1 ounce each).
Mix
_____# of guests X 2 drinks each = _____
EX: 150 guests X 2 drinks of spirits each = _300 drinks
A 2 liter of pop is 64 oz, which approx serves 8 – 8oz glasses
______# of drinks /8 glasses per 2 litre bottle of pop =________
EX: 300 drinks /8 glasses per 2 litre bottle of pop =_37.5 or 38 bottles of pop
Suggestions:
– The most common types of pop to serve at a function are Coke, 7-Up, and Gingerale and to a lesser extent Diet Drinks, and Soda. If you plan on doing any type of cocktails, you will also need mix for this as well.
EX: 15 Bottles of Coke, 5 Bottles of Diet Coke, 8 Bottles of 7-UP, 2 Bottles of Diet 7-UP, 4 Bottles of Gingerale, 2 Bottles of Soda, 2 Bottles of Root Beer.
Other Mix Options/Garnishes:
-Based on 150 people
– 4 Bottles of Clamato Juice for Caesars as well as spices.
-2 -4 litre Jugs of 1% Milk for Paralyzers.
-Garnishes – limes, lemons, cherries.