Planning a Party?  Let Us Help...

To manually calculate the alcohol you need:

1. Estimate how many people will be drinking at the event.

2. Multiply this number by four (although most people drink 2 to 3 drinks at a party, we estimated 4 drinks per person so that you won't run out!). This tells you the total number of drinks you need.

3. Translate this drink number into the different kinds of drinks:

  A can or bottle of beer provides one drink
  A 750 ml bottle of wine provides five drinks
  A 1.5 liter bottle of wine provides 10 drinks
  A 750 ml bottle of liquor provides about 18 drinks
  A liter bottle of liquor is about 24 drinks.

What will people want?

About half of your guests will express a preference for beer. The rest of the guests will be more interested in mixed drinks and wine. The ratio of 1/2 beer, 1/4 wine, 1/4 mixed drinks is the ratio we use.

Finally, multiply those numbers by the preference percentages above (50% beer, 25% wine, 25% spirits) and you have a shopping breakdown of the alcohol you need to buy.
 

For example, a typical selection for a party of 100 people would be 400 standard drinks, distributed in this way:

• Beer: 400 drinks times 50% = 200 drinks
  200 - 12 oz. bottles or cans of beer

• Wine: 400 drinks times 25% = 100 drinks
  20 - 750ml bottles of table wine)

• Liquor: 400 drinks times 25% = 100drinks)
  6 - 750 ml bottles of spirits
   

What kinds of spirits?

It may help you to know the most common spirits, according to our sales statistics:

1. Whiskey

2. Vodka

3. Rum

4. Tequila

5. Scotch

6. Gin

7. Vermouth (for Martinis and Manhattans)

8. Other (aperitifs, liqueurs)

A number of aperitifs and liqueurs are very popular in our area, including Bailey's Irish Cream and Kahlua, both of which are often served with milk or coffee.

Don’t forget milk or cream, cola, fruit juice, tonic water, soda water, and all the other mixes that make mixed drinks great.

And last but not least...don't forget to get extra soft drinks for non-drinkers and designated drivers.

  Liquid measure:

1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 128 fl oz. = 3.8 liters

¾ gallon = 3 quarts = 6 pints = 96 fl oz. = 2.8 liters
½ gallon = 2 quarts = 4 pints = 64 fl oz. = 1.9 liters
1.057 quarts = 2.1 pints = 33.8 fl oz. = 1 liter
¼ gallon = 1 quart = 2 pints = 32 fl oz. = .95 liters
1 pint = 16 fl oz. = 2 cups = 474 ml
½ pint = 8 fl oz. = 1 cup = 237 ml
1 keg = 16 gallons = 7 cases = 168 12-oz beers

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