Running out of drinks halfway through your party is every host's nightmare. Too little means disappointed guests, too much means wasted money. Get the calculation right and you'll know exactly how much beer, wine and mixers you need for 50 people.
Average drink consumption per person
For a standard party lasting 2-3 hours, these amounts work well per person:
- Beer: 3-4 glasses (25cl each) = 75-100cl per person
- Wine: 2-3 glasses (15cl each) = 30-45cl per person
- Soft drinks/water: 2-3 glasses (20cl each) = 40-60cl per person
- Spirits: 1-2 shots = 5-10cl per person
💡 Example for 50 people (2.5 hours):
Average party with mixed crowd:
- Beer: 50 × 87.5cl = 43.75 liters (18 crates of 24 bottles)
- Wine: 50 × 37.5cl = 18.75 liters (25 bottles)
- Soft drinks: 50 × 50cl = 25 liters (100 bottles)
- Spirits: 50 × 7.5cl = 3.75 liters (5 bottles)
Factors that affect your consumption
These numbers are your baseline, but several factors change everything:
- Time of day: Lunch party = less alcohol, evening party = more
- Target group: Business party = more moderate, birthday = more
- Season: Summer = more beer and rosé, winter = more red wine
- Duration: Each extra hour = +25% consumption
- Food included: Snacks = 20% less drink consumption
⚠️ Note:
Always add 10-15% extra. Better to have something left over than to run short. Unopened bottles can usually be returned.
Distribution by drink preference
Not everyone drinks the same. Here's what most party hosts discover too late - guest preferences vary wildly:
- Beer lovers: 40-50% of guests
- Wine lovers: 30-40% of guests
- Soft drinks only: 10-15% of guests
- Spirits: 20-30% have at least one shot
💡 Practical distribution 50 people:
- 25 people mainly drink beer (4 glasses per person)
- 18 people mainly drink wine (3 glasses per person)
- 7 people drink only soft drinks (4 glasses per person)
- 15 people also have a shot (1.5 per person)
This gives you a more realistic estimate than the average.
Costs per drink type
Keep these average purchase prices in mind (excl. 21% VAT on alcohol):
- Beer (crate 24x25cl): €12-18 = €0.50-0.75 per glass
- House wine (bottle): €4-8 = €0.80-1.60 per glass
- Soft drinks (bottle): €0.40-0.80 per bottle
- Spirits: €15-25 per bottle = €0.75-1.25 per shot
💡 Total drink costs 50 people:
- Beer: 18 crates × €15 = €270
- Wine: 25 bottles × €6 = €150
- Soft drinks: 100 bottles × €0.60 = €60
- Spirits: 5 bottles × €20 = €100
Total: €580 (€11.60 per person)
Extra essentials
Don't forget these essentials besides the drinks:
- Ice: 1-2 kg per 10 people
- Glasses: Minimum 2 per person per drink type
- Mixers: Tonic, cola, orange juice for cocktails
- Garnish: Lemon, lime, olives
- Openers: Bottle openers, corkscrews
How to calculate drink consumption? (step by step)
Determine type of party and duration
Note whether it's a business party, birthday or informal gathering. Calculate per hour: first hour full consumption, each following hour +25% extra. A 3-hour party thus has 150% of the base consumption.
Calculate per drink type
Use the standard amounts: beer 3-4 glasses, wine 2-3 glasses, soft drinks 2-3 glasses per person. Multiply by number of guests and adjust for event type. Business = -20%, festive = +20%.
Add safety margin
Add 10-15% extra to your calculation. Better to have something left over than to disappoint guests. Unopened alcohol bottles can usually be returned to your supplier, so the risk is limited.
✨ Pro tip
Send a quick WhatsApp poll asking guests their drink preferences 3 days before the party. You'll cut your guesswork in half and avoid buying 20 bottles of red wine for a beer-loving crowd.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
Was this article helpful?
Frequently asked questions
How much beer do I need for 50 people?
For a standard party of 2-3 hours: 15-20 crates of 24 bottles. Calculate 3-4 beers per person who drinks beer, which is usually 40-50% of your guests.
Can I save money by buying myself?
Yes, purchasing from a wholesaler or liquor store is often 30-50% cheaper than catering suppliers. Just watch out for deposit fees and make sure you have enough cooling space.
What if I have too much drink left over?
Unopened bottles can usually be returned. Keep opened bottles refrigerated for next time. Beer and soft drinks last 2-3 months.
How many mixers do I need for cocktails?
Calculate per 10 cocktails: 1 liter tonic, 0.5 liter cola, 0.5 liter orange juice. Plus fresh lemons and limes for garnish.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
Calculate your cocktail costs down to the ml
Drink margins seem high, but spillage and free pours eat them up. KitchenNmbrs calculates the exact cost price of every cocktail and drink. Try it free.
Start free trial →